Argentina demand release of players for Springbok test<BR>

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina have demanded their players are either released for their test against South Africa next month or banned from playing for their French and Irish clubs.

Several French clubs and Ireland's Leinster have said they will not release their Pumas as they have European Cup matches on December 4, the same day the Springboks visit the Velez Sarsfield soccer stadium in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) said in a statement that they had written to the International Rugby Board (IRB) outlining their demands.

"Given the refusal of some French clubs (Perpignan, ASM Montferrand and Stade Toulousain) and Leinster of Ireland to release the players called ... to the Pumas squad to face South Africa ... the UAR has sent a letter to the International Rugby Board demanding the application of rule 9.4," the statement on the UAR's official website said.

Rule 9.4 states that any player made unavailable for a match with his national team is automatically suspended from playing for his club that day and for the next 10 days, the UAR added.

French league president Serge Blanco has argued that the Pumas should not be released for a match that falls outside the official November test window, French daily L'Equipe said earlier this week.

According to Argentine media reports, Leinster have refused to release first five-eighths Felipe Contepomi, who kicked 14 points in Argentina's shock 24-14 victory over France in Marseille last weekend.

Forwards Patricio Albacete (Pau), Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan), Omar Hasan (Toulouse) and Mario Ledesma (Castres) and backs Federico Aramburu (Biarritz) and Hernan Senillosa (Montferrand) have also been told by their clubs they cannot go.

French champions Stade Francais, however, have allowed Pumas captain Agustin Pichot, Contepomi's halfback partner, and two other Argentines to fulfil their Springbok test commitment despite also having a European Cup match on December 4.

Argentina play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the second of their three-test end-of-year programme.

- REUTERS