Argentina steps up bid for Tri-Nations (Posted on 27 February 2007)
Argentina has made representations at government level in Australia to try to get its national rugby team into the Tri-Nations competition from as early as next year, local media reported on Tuesday.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive Gary Flowers said the Pumas were eager to get involved in a major competition and share the associated television revenues from playing in an event alongside South Africa, Australia and the All Blacks. Argentina are the only top-10 ranked side not to play in an annual international competition like the Southern Hemisphere's Tri-Nations or the Six Nations in Europe.
"I haven't heard anything about next year, but we have had representations from the Argentine Rugby Union about them coming into the Tri-Nations if it was expanded," Flowers was quoted as saying in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
"There have also been approaches from their ambassador here on a government to government basis."
Flowers said Argentina's entry into the competition next year could be premature as it would require the renegotiation of television contracts signed until 2010.
He added that Wallabies coach John Connolly was concerned too many Argentine players would be contracted to European clubs and that the Pumas would struggle to regularly guarantee a first-choice team.
"If they came into the Tri-Nations you would have to ensure they were competitive and would have their top players available," Flowers said.
"Given the Tri-Nations runs from July through to early September, and with the European season under way, that is an issue that would have to be confronted."
