IRB pays for Pumas

Rugby’s governing body will pay $2 million so Argentina can play in the Tri-Nations from 2012.

International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset says from a sports forum the one-off payment removes the final obstacle keeping the Pumas from joining the championship, which features New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The IRB council just has to confirm the deal at a meeting next month, Lapasset says.

Argentina finished third at the 2007 Rugby World Cup but has wanted regular matches against highly ranked opposition as it is geographically stranded on the international rugby map.

It is done,” said Lapasset at the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona. “The principle is to support the cost of the introduction of Argentina into the Tri Nations. It will be a one-off payment of around $2 million (€1.47 million). The principle is agreed, and we just need the IRB Council to confirm at the next meeting (scheduled for May 12th).

“It will be done so Argentina can enter in 2012. We have an agreement with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia for the financial programme that is now in place, and the three existing nations are supportive.”

In September 2009, SANZAR, the board representing the national rugby unions of the existing Tri Nations teams, tabled a conditional invitation to Argentina to join the competition.

Aside from being geographically stranded on the global rugby map, the fact that most of Argentina’s best players are based in Europe has also counted against bringing the South American country into the fold.

“The challenge now is to organise the travel arrangements between the countries,” admitted Lapasset, who sits on the IRB Council. “However, it is fantastic (that Argentina will join the Tri Nations).

“It started with the World Cup in 2007 and we realised the importance of creating a symbol in South America. It will help to build professionalism within Argentinian rugby.”