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Rugby Union

Argies miss out on Six Nations

30/11/2007

Argentina are set to compete in the Tri-Nations rather than the Six Nations, the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will also stay with 20 teams competing in the pool stages.

The Pumas, who reached the semi-finals of last month's World Cup, have been awarded three more Test matches a year.

The Tri-Nations is run by South Africa, New Zealand and Australia who will negotiate a new TV deal in 2010.

For Argentina to enter the Tri-Nations they have to meet the IRB's requirement of having most of their players based in the country.

Currently, Argentina's domestic game is amateur with most of their star players plying their trade in Europe.

"In the short-term there are major hurdles to the integration of Argentina into the southern playing structure," an IRB statement said.

"The Argentinean Rugby Union (UAR) has made a commitment to have their players contracted to the union and for the majority of their players to be based in Argentina by 2012."

There were fears the 2011 Rugby World Cup would be downsized, but following a recommendation from the Rugby World Cup board the format will remain the same.

The number of automatic qualifiers will rise from eight teams to 12.