Six Pumas Barred From Wallabies Test

Six Argentina players and two management staff have been banned from participation in Saturday’s final Test against the Wallabies.

The players and staff members took an unauthorised day trip to Byron Bay. Eight members of the country’s touring squad on Wednesday travelled over the border into New South Wales to visit a health retreat.

The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) has named the eight team members as players Sebastián Cancelliere, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino, along with manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martínez.

In a statement on Thursday morning, Sanzaar said all members of the group will have no further involvement in the tournament:

'Following consultation with the Queensland Government, SANZAAR is aware that several members of the Argentinean rugby team were stopped at the Queensland border after a visit to Byron Bay in New South Wales on Wednesday 29 September. This travel across the state border is a direct breach of the present Queensland Government health orders and SANZAAR’s Rugby Championship tournament biosecurity plan.

 
SANZAAR has informed Argentina Rugby that all members of this group are now ineligible to participate further in The Rugby Championship as they have breached tournament rules.
 

These team members, comprising six players and two team management staff, crossed the border on their scheduled day off without the permission of the tournament and without seeking clarity on their ability to re-enter Queensland under the existing COVID border restrictions. The group will now stay in New South Wales and will not be available for the round six match against Australia on the Gold Coast on Saturday. They will rejoin the rest of the touring squad on Sunday to fly back to Argentina.
 

The Australia versus Argentina match to be played at CBUS Super Stadium on Saturday 2 October will proceed. The Argentinean playing squad comprises 44 players and the team will announce the matchday squad for the match later today.

 
SANZAAR is very disappointed that such a breach has occurred given the clear rules that are in place to ensure the health and safety of all players and staff, and compliance with all relevant health orders. SANZAAR would like to thank the Queensland Government for their continued support and leadership in facilitating the Rugby Championship in the State over the last four consecutive weeks.'