ARGENTINA: RUGBY UNION - Argentina's Rugby Union discusses Puma's participation in upcoming Rugby Championship

Record ID: 446716

  • Title: ARGENTINA: RUGBY UNION - Argentina's Rugby Union discusses Puma's participation in upcoming Rugby Championship
  • Date: 23rd November 2011
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PUMAS TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina, Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ZPN6KR16M6ELFZX2PASLMKE6
  • Story Text: Sanzar would like to see Argentina stage two of their three home matches in their debut year in the Rugby Championship in Buenos Aires, the southern hemisphere body's CEO Greg Peters said on Tuesday (November 22) at meeting of rugby officials in Buenos Aires.
    Officials like Mike Eagle, also of Sanzar, and Miguel Galindo of Argentina met up at a Buenos Aires hotel to make Argentina's official presentation of their participation in the successor tournament to the Tri-nations.
    "On this historic day, I want to thank you all for your presence, for being with us as we incorporate ourselves into this new tournament called the Rugby Championship," Galindo said.
    Peters welcomed Argentina, whose national team the Pumas have become a world class squad after two consecutive high finishes in the World Cup.
    "I think its a very important and exciting step and long overdue step for Argentina to be accepted into the Rugby Championship and what we like to think is the best rugby championship in the world and the best competition at international level," Peters.
    Then Peters announced he would like two games to be played in Buenos Aires.
    "We have strongly recommended that the UAR plays two games in Buenos Aires and 1 game outside Buenos Aires," he said.
    Peters, CEO since last November of the body grouping Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, said his recommendation was based on logistical matters the visiting teams would face in Argentina over and above the long journey to get here.
    Alexander Mark, the head of South African rugby, said Argentina is ready to compete with the more traditional rugby nations.
    "We believe its good for the growth of the game to make sure the southern hemisphere has a strong presence in the World Cup. Argentina always showed the talent, they just needed an opportunity to play regularly international rugby. So when they are in the World Cups do come up they are ready and able to compete at the highest level," he said.
    Mark added it will be a place for Argentine talent to showcase their abilities in hopes of getting recruited.
    "I think you'll have more than two. In the last Pampas team there were about 12 players that could be signed by franchises at the time," Mark said.
    Argentina will make their long awaited debut in a major international competition away to South Africa on Aug. 18, 2012. On that day Australia will be at home to New Zealand.
    A key factor in Argentina's participation was that they should play at full strength with the International Board devising Article 9 which obliges European clubs, where many of the Pumas play their rugby, to release them for the tournament and the June and November international windows.
    This will, no doubt, discourage European clubs from signing Argentine players.
    But Eagle said Sanzar was keen to encourage Argentines to take part in competitions at all levels in the three Sanzar countries all the way to eventually inserting a franchise in the Super 15.
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