KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Argentina have been rewarded for their third place at the World Cup with an International Rugby Board plan for their inclusion in top-level international competition.
"The full integration of Argentina into the senior international calendar and the basis of a four-year transition programme to achieve that aim" was among key agreements at an IRB workshop, the world body said today.
That transition would involve the Pumas playing more tests and building a professional structure for the national game.
Argentina had a remarkable run in the World Cup in France that ended on October 20 despite representing the amateur UAR and playing fewer than half the tests a year of the other nations in the top 10.
Pumas captain Agustin Pichot, one of a handful of players at the workshop in Woking, England, felt the meetings were positive but believes Argentina will have a long wait before finding a place in a top tournament - most probably the Tri-nations.
"When we entered into the details, it became obvious that there's a very marked conflict between the northern and southern hemispheres and Argentina is stuck in the middle of this 'fight' because their players are playing in Europe," he said.
"The truth is I see this matter as long term, a process that will take a lot longer than looked the case after the World Cup," he told the Argentine website.
Pichot said that with the majority of Pumas playing for European clubs, the UAR must "try to find the solution so that our players are contract free to take part in the Tri-nations."
The forum's recommended four-year plan for Argentina includes:
* Steadily increasing the number and calibre of test matches the Pumas play between 2008 and 2010 (2011 being a Rugby World Cup year) from the present six to nine per year.
* The Pumas to play four tests in the June window (instead of three), three in the November window and two during the European Six Nations window. This follows the agreement of the French and English clubs to release players during the Six Nations window for the next three years.
* The progressive development of professional rugby structures in Argentina...to develop player depth and to ensure that eventually the majority of top-class players stay in Argentina to play their rugby so that Argentina can be fully integrated into the southern top-flight rugby playing structure.
- REUTERS
