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SANZAR wants two Pumas tests in Buenos Aires
Rex Gowar
Sydney Morning Harald
November 23, 2011 - 2:37PM
Representatives of SANZAR in Auckland last week. Photo: Getty Images
SANZAR would like Argentina to stage two of their three home matches in their debut Rugby Championship next year in Buenos Aires, the ruling body's CEO Greg Peters said.
"I strongly recommend the UAR (Argentine Rugby Union) hold two games in Buenos Aires and one outside," the New Zealander told an official presentation of Argentina's participation in the tournament which succeeds the Tri Nations championship.
Peters, the CEO since last November of the body grouping Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, said his recommendation was based on the logistical concerns the visiting teams would face in Argentina over and above the long journey to get here.
He emphasized the importance of the new tournament by saying: "Next year we will have the first, second, fourth and seventh ranked teams in the world. We will have the best versus the best."
UAR president Luis Castillo said he would like to see the Pumas play their home matches in provincial venues as well as the capital.
Argentina will make their long awaited debut in a major international competition away to South Africa on August 18. On that day Australia will be at home to world champions New Zealand.
"This is an historic day for national (Argentine) rugby...We are committed to showing we can be better," said Castillo, adding that for the Pumas this was like entering Formula One.
Former Pumas captain Agustin Pichot, who has played an instrumental part in Argentina's invitation to the tournament, said the UAR had broken the perception that Argentines were unable to plan long term.
"After (third place at the World Cup in) 2007 we committed ourselves to forming a team off the field (to push this forward) because it was unfair that the Pumas weren't (in a major competition)," Pichot said.
"I felt this as a player the most important thing was that the players should have the opportunity. It's going to be very hard but that's how you learn."
A key factor in Argentina's participation was an International Board ruling obliging European clubs, where many of the Pumas play their rugby, to release them for the tournament and the June and November international windows.
SANZAR president Mike Eagle of New Zealand said SANZAR was keen to encourage Argentines to take part in competitions at all levels in the three SANZAR countries
with the ultimate goal of a franchise in the Super 15 club competition.
"By having your players in the southern hemisphere, you won't have the problems you have (now) with your players in the northern hemisphere facing the restrictions of each country," he said.
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IMO, they should initially be looking at two franchises, one in the NZ Conference and one in the Australia Conference (and based in those countries like the Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup) and that would allow the Southern Kings to join in the South African conference.
And that would inevitably lead to this....
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"The ultimate goal for Argentina should be really to have their own conference of Super Rugby down here playing in front of their own fans. That's why we've got a conference system and it's easy to add conferences," said SANZAR boss Mike Eagle.
"You'd actually have your own professional teams down here playing in your own conference as part of the Sanzar competition and then you'd be in charge of the destiny of your own players, you don't have to go and ask other clubs for their release and that would a win-win for everybody.
"I'd like to see Argentina become a part of Sanzar, not just an invited guest and to go forward to have a professional conference running out of here."
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http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/super-franchise-could-next-argentina-4563035
