Argentina still hoping for Six Nations role

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has renewed his call for the Pumas inclusion in the Six Nations, to the point of calling the tournament their natural home.

Loffreda made his plea before Argentina launched a tour of Europe including tests against England, Italy and France.

"The standard we should be looking for and at which we should be participating is the Six Nations," said Loffreda. "I believe that would be the tournament par excellence for Argentina because it would not only serve Argentina in terms of the standard they are developing but also the rest of the teams because they'd have one more opponent of a very similar level.

"What's more, we'd be in condition to make a base in Europe, we're capable of making that kind of effort or sacrifice to favour and ease such competition," said Loffreda.

Loffreda, who first made his plea at the time of Argentina's 25-25 draw with the British and Irish Lions 18 months ago in Cardiff, has seen little progress by the International Rugby Board (IRB) in finding a tournament to suit the geographically  isolated Pumas.

The IRB has pledged to increase competition opportunities for countries outside the two big tournaments in Europe and the southern hemisphere but cash-strapped Argentina are awkwardly placed on the map for either.

"There has been absolutely no advance," Loffreda said. "What there was, was some attempt by the IRB (to organise something), but on an official level as far as the Six Nations is concerned, nothing."

Argentina took part in the IRB-sponsored Rainbow Cup in Portugal earlier this year with an A team and won it. There is the possibility of another Tri-Nations, along the lines of the major southern hemisphere competition involving New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, featuring Argentina, Canada and the U.S.

"This is not too certain," Loffreda said. "What  is happening is the IRB has tried to organise a tournament with the South Pacific Islands which is already functioning from this year, so they want to find a way for the teams of the Americas to also have a competition.

"We should send an Argentina A (team to that) but continue to press for participation in the Six Nations which also fits us in terms of the season and timing because the majority of our players are in the northern hemisphere."

Twenty-four of Argentina's 30-strong tour squad play their club rugby in France, Britain and Italy.