Pumas players kicked out of Rugby Championship for border breach

Six Argentina players and two management staff have been kicked out of the Rugby Championship for breaching Covid restrictions in Australia.

Pumas captain Julian Montoya.
Photo: Photosport

Governing body SANZAAR says the eight team members crossed the Queensland border into NSW yesterday without exemptions and were stopped trying to re-enter Queensland.

The travel was 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 tournament.

SANZAAR says Saturday’s rugby championship test between Australia and Argentina on the Gold Coast will proceed.

The players reportedly include Argentina captain Julian Montoya.

The group will now stay in New South Wales and will not be available for the weekend’s test against the Wallabies. They will rejoin the rest of the touring squad on Sunday to fly back to Argentina.

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.

Media reports in Australia claim the group tried to return to their Gold Coast base last night but were stopped by police on the border and refused entry.

The Pumas are bottom of the Rugby Championship competition which has already been won by the All Blacks with a round to spare.

The All Blacks play the Springboks again this weekend after narrowly beating them last week.

-RNZ