Argentina eye Seven Nations

Argentina will step up their bid to join the Six Nations by presenting their case to the International Rugby Board later this month.

The Pumas are anxious to build on their third-place finish at the recent World Cup by gaining entry into one of the established annual competitions.

The Tri-Nations is a possible home, but with almost the entire national squad playing their rugby in Europe, the Six Nations remains their preferred option.

The Unión Argentina de Rugby, with help from the IRB, have been conducting a strategic review and will present their findings at the end of this month.

Hugo Porta, the Argentinian minister for sport and former Puma outhalf, will make the presentation when the IRB are gathered in London for a forum to discuss ways of implementing an integrated global season.

Porta said yesterday: "We will present our strategic plan to the IRB, which we have been working on at the UAR for a long time with the purpose of getting Argentina included in future international competitions."

The IRB are also determined to find a competitive home for Argentina, who beat France (twice), Ireland and Scotland en route to their best ever World Cup finish.

Argentina appear set on joining an expanded Seven Nations, possibly basing themselves in Spain or Belgium.