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Pumas still no guarantee for Four Nations
GREG GROWDEN CHIEF RUGBY CORRESPONDENT
March 11, 2010
ARGENTINA would have to be able to field their best team to be included in a Four Nations tournament with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa from 2012.
The Pumas are not yet assured of inclusion despite the International Rugby Board agreeing to provide financial support, says SANZAR board member and Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said yesterday it would provide a one-off contribution of $US2 million ($2.19m) so the Pumas would be able to have regular matches against top-quality opposition.
While O'Neill was pleased the IRB would provide substantial financial backing, more work was required, in particular ensuring that amendments were made to an IRB regulation to guarantee that European clubs, where virtually all of the leading Pumas are contracted, allow them to play in the southern hemisphere tournament.
''We've made good progress, but it's not time to pop the champagne corks,'' O'Neill said. ''SANZAR have always accepted bringing Argentina into an expanded Tri Nations is a good idea. But that is only based on conditions being satisfied.
''An important condition revolves around the financials. We do not want to be any worse off than we are under the current format. We went to the IRB with the financial difference it would be to bring Argentina in, which resulted in the IRB putting in more than $US2 million a year. That doesn't fully compensate the SANZAR unions, but it goes pretty close. All credit to the IRB for doing that.''
But it was as crucial that there was ''certainty that the Argentinian team will be their best team''.
As the expanded tournament will be played between August-October, the Pumas will have to be released by their clubs.
''Currently IRB regulation number nine about the availability of players for international duty has various windows, including for the Six Nations and for June inbound tours to the southern hemisphere, but they haven't dedicated a window for the Argentinian players so that they can rely on the clubs releasing them,'' O'Neill said. ''At this stage they are relying on the good grace of the clubs and we're not convinced that's enough certainty. We are saying to the IRB that we can't go from a very successful Tri Nations to a Four Nations home and away if Argentina can't have a watertight position on ensuring their best players are available.
''It's a long way from Buenos Aires to Auckland to Sydney to Johannesburg, and for all the costs that we incur in going into this Four Nations, as well as convincing the broadcasters that it will be as good as the Tri Nations, well I do not want to take that punt unless the IRB not only provides the money, but also the regulatory framework to make sure the Pumas are at full strength.''
SANZAR officials will lobby the IRB in Dublin later this month.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...0310-pzb2.html
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