The invitation needs to be approved by Tri-Nations governing body SANZAR's broadcast partners and is conditional on Argentina fielding their best players and Argentina Rugby (UAR) offering a satisfactory financial package.
“To have the Pumas join with the three top-ranked international teams in world rugby will be exciting for fans, players, sponsors and broadcasters across our four countries and beyond,” said SANZAR chief executive Andy Marinos. “They play a different style to the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies and their inclusion will see the Tri-Nations evolve to be a truly southern hemisphere championship.”
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset added: “The IRB welcomes the news that SANZAR has invited Argentina to join a new Four Nations from 2012. A key recommendation of the Woking Forum was to prioritise finding a solution that would lead to Argentina’s integration into an annual tournament structure. Today’s announcement is extremely exciting for the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) and Rugby fans around the world.”
Argentina came third in the last World Cup and are ranked sixth in the world.
