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Pumas plead for recognition
08/11/2006 08:06 - (SA)
London - Argentina's rugby captain and a former England coach have pleaded for the Pumas to be included in an international competition as soon as possible, preferably the Six Nations.
Agustin Pichot, the Pumas' skipper, said his country had been treated unfairly and that he could not understand why they were repeatedly given the cold shoulder by organisers of both the southern hemisphere's Tri-Nations and the Six Nations, the European equivalent.
Les Cusworth, a former England flyhalf and coach and now Argentina's director of rugby, added it was imperative that the Pumas be included in a major competition "sooner rather than later."
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has been criticised repeatedly for not doing more for the Pumas but Cusworth, who has worked in Argentina for six years, said it was unfair to single out rugby union's global governing body.
"The IRB has actually given us a huge amount of support," Cusworth said on Tuesday after Argentina's first training session in London ahead of this Saturday's Test against England at Twickenham.
Cusworth said that the IRB had pledged $4m over three years to develop the game in Argentina which, he added, was enjoying steady growth.
According to Cusworth, there are 72 rugby clubs in the Buenos Aires region alone, while 290 Argentinians earn their living as professional rugby players in Europe.
Of the 30 players involved in the November tour of England, Italy and France, only six players are based in Argentina. Pichot has spent his entire professional career in Europe.
"I've loved playing over here but of course it would have been better had I been able to play at home," said the 32-year-old scrumhalf, now at Paris's Stade Francais club after spells in England with Richmond and Bristol.
"Look at us: we only trained today (Tuesday) for the first time and now have only a few days to prepare for a Test. In fact, we are still waiting for two of our players to arrive."
Pichot insisted Argentina's failure to win a place in either the Six Nations or the Tri-Nations had nothing to do with their performances.
Argentina's results have been better than merely "good". They have beaten France four times in a row, defeated Wales 2-0 in a Test series in June and overcame both Scotland and Italy last November, all of which suggests that they would be a formidable force in the Six Nations.
"We just want to play. I'm 32 now, so I probably won't get to play in such a tournament but it is very important for the future of Pumas rugby that we get involved soon."
However, England coach Andy Robinson said now was not the time to expand the Six Nations. "I think the Six Nations is a unique competition and it should remain that way.
"But everybody has to look at the game in the next 20-30 years and about how we introduce not only Argentina but other sides that will come through. That will be the strength of rugby, when it truly becomes global.
"Argentina will only improve by having more games against New Zealand, England and South Africa and being challenged in a competition.
- AFP
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