Rugby: Where to for Argentina?

Sanzar was slow to show the love to Argentina after the 2007 World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Sanzar's determination to help build Argentina into a consistent and capable global rugby force is likely to be tested in the coming weeks as scrutiny will increase on the sustainability, practicality and financial viability of bringing South America into Super Rugby.

Philosophically, almost every current stakeholder in Super Rugby is in favour of placing a franchise in Argentina from 2016.

In the context of wanting to create a more competitive and marketable international offering in the Southern Hemisphere, helping Argentina is the right thing to do.

It was shameful that after the Pumas finished third at the 2007 Rugby World Cup - ahead of the All Blacks and Wallabies - they were treated like a leper. Sanzar and the Six Nations made it clear they didn't want to find a place for Argentina in their respective international competitions.

Having subsequently softened and welcomed the Pumas into the Rugby Championship, Sanzar feels duty-bound to persevere with them. Since entering the Rugby Championship in 2012, the Pumas are yet to win a test but have drawn with the Springboks and pushed the Wallabies to the brink.

Given the enormity of the task - playing the top three sides in the world twice each in an eight-week period - the Pumas have done remarkably well. Sanzar's desire to include them in Super Rugby is driven by the belief that Argentina are currently hampered by having the bulk of their best players based in Europe. Most of the Pumas squad are contracted to French and English clubs which presents numerous challenges. The first, and most severe, is that the relatively sedate pace of club football in that part of the world does not adequately prepare individuals for the high tempo-high intensity game they encounter in the Rugby Championship.

The second problem is that most of Argentina's players are having to play 11 months of the year as a consequence of their employment straddling the two hemispheres.

Sanzar believes a Super Rugby presence in Argentina could fix these two problems. It's a bit of a 'build it and they will come' approach - based on the idea that Argentina will be able to lure players out of Europe if they have a decent wage and competition to offer. If they can pull players back from Europe and prevent others from going, the Pumas will benefit. If the Pumas benefit, Sanzar benefits from a better international competition to offer sponsors and broadcasters.

In time, a second Super Rugby side could be placed in Argentina, maybe even three. That's the theory.

In practice, it might not be so easy as Argentina is going to have to form a strategy for building its Super Rugby team. What is the longer-term plan to migrate players from Europe? From where will the money come and will it be enough as most of the Pumas are highly paid by their European clubs?

What kind of support base could a team actually build, given that the nature of the new format is expected to be such that the Argentinian side is going to be on the road for half the competition? Because of the increased costs of including Argentina in Super Rugby and the need to cut them a share of the revenue, the decision to include them has to sit well with both the head and the heart.

The level of patience required also has to be realised. It may take more than a decade, longer even, before the Pumas win a Four Nations test. Italy were welcomed into the Six Nations in 2000 and have won just 11 of their 75 games - six of those have been against Scotland, two each against France and Wales and one against Ireland.

They have taken nine wooden spoons and only twice - 2013 and 2007 - have they won two games in a championship. Italy's rugby contribution has been limited but commercially they have paid their way; they come with a relatively strong economy.