The Man From the Six-Nations he say No!
Argentina’s entry to global rugby lies within the constraints of the Tri-Nations rather than the Six Nations the IRB has decided!
So, Argentina must wait, and probably wait some more - with Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) set to negotiate a new TV deal in 2010 for the Tri-Nations it’s unlikely anything will be done until then.
The denies a team who had a fantastic World Cup and became the only team outside of the Six and Tri - Nations to reach a World Cup semi-final, the chance to improve their game some more (look what it did for Italy!).
Fans around the world (myself included) believed that they should get a regular high-level competition ASAP after their fantastic performance at the World Cup, which tournament was anybody’s guess - but either would have done, but logistics take time….
As a consolation for not getting into either tournament quickly, the Pumas have been awarded more Test matches each year (nine instead of six), and will also participate in the Churchill Cup. Two of those new interenationals will appear during the Six Nations window, following an agreement by English and French clubs to release Pumas for their matches.
The main stumbling block Argentina have to face, is the IRB’s requirement for the Tri-Nations that most players have to be based in the country. With an amateur game still being the norm in Argentina, it’s lead to most of the top players working abroad - almost exclusively in Europe.
“The Argentinian Rugby Union (UAR) has made a commitment to have their players contracted to the union and for the majority of their players to be based in Argentina by 2012,” said the IRB.