Argentina’s rugby team is in disarray, with police confirming eight members of the touring party – six players and two support staff – left Queensland to visit a health retreat in Byron Bay and have been stopped from rejoining the squad.
The Rugby Championship governing body SANZAAR hit out at the players in a statement on Thursday but said Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies would go ahead as planned.
Argentina Rugby named the players as: Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Socino, Felipe Ezcurra,
Sebastían Cancelliere and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla.
The team officials are manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martínez.
Loose forward Matera and prop Medrano were starters in last week’s Test in Townsville while Socino was the back up hooker.
“Following consultation with the Queensland Government, SANZAAR is aware that several members of the Argentinean rugby team were stopped at the Queensland border after a visit to Byron Bay in New South Wales on Wednesday 29 September,” the SANZAAR statement said.
“This travel across the state border is 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 Rugby Championship as they have breached tournament rules.
“These team members, comprising six players and two team management staff, crossed the border on their scheduled day off without the permission of the tournament and without seeking clarity on their ability to re-enter Queensland under the existing COVID border restrictions.
“The group will now stay in New South Wales and will not be available for the round six match against Australia on the Gold Coast on Saturday. They will rejoin the rest of the touring squad on Sunday to fly back to Argentina.
“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.”
Nine TV reported police confirmed the eight members of the Argentinian team, including players, “went in a bus to Byron Bay yesterday for a health retreat.”
“When they tried to come back across the border, they didn’t have the appropriate documentation, they were turned away,” reporter Jessica Millward told TODAY.
“They’ve spent the night in a Kingscliff hotel.
“You can only go from Queensland into Northern NSW for a small number of things, they include essential work, compassionate reasons and medical reasons.
“Those reasons do not include a health retreat.”
Argentina Rugby later put out a statement confirming the identity of the players, adding they were “in perfect health, staying in a hotel in the area, waiting for their condition to be resolved.”
“At the moment, its only limitation is the momentary impossibility of transferring state jurisdiction to meet again with the rest of the members who remain in Queensland,” the statement read.
“The UAR is carrying out all the necessary steps at the institutional level and providing all the assistance to facilitate the return of the players and staff as soon as possible.
“In parallel, an internal process has begun to clarify what happened and determine the corresponding responsibilities.”
Australia and Argentina were due to name its team later Thursday for the match scheduled for Saturday afternoon on the Gold Coast.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
the Tweed - or the Rio Grande? Gotta keep them "Mexicans" out of God's country (Queensland)
Nathan
Guest
Whats stopping them getting in to nsw the border isn't closed that way
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
In 2020 they didn’t have crowds. Big US sports had no crowds, college football cancelled. Wimbledon cancelled. English Premier League delayed then no or limited crowds most of the season. Olympics postponed. Etc etc
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So Ben Lee was wrong?
In brief
Guest
COVID is literally the biggest farce since the days of the witch burning. Or maybe it’s just Y2K revisited..
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
Do the crime, do the time, but you are punishing 38 other players that follow the protocols.
Larry1950
Guest
Love you guys who know what's best for us, like Murdoch's employees. Annastasia won in a landslide 11 months ago, every opinion poll recently has her blitzing that 'kristafooly' upstart. 3 more years, get used to it. If you live here & don't like it, move south. If you don't, you don't count.
Larry1950
Guest
Cretin, I would have thought that an agreement to comply with a covid safe health plan as agreed with the authorities would be a clear enough requirement for any court to rule in Qld government's favour. Or is it a case of "here's what we say we'll do but here's what we'll actually do".
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
A conceirge walks into George Best's hotel suite. Naked girls, Rolling Stones, bottles of Dom Perignon and 100 pound notes are strewn about the room. "Oh Mr Best, how did it all go so wrong??!! :shocked:"
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I wasn't involved sport, leave me out of it. I had nothing to do with the Argentinians' dimwittedness.
MO
Guest
Yes mate. there has to an "acceptable" number of deaths and I'm just being a bit silly. No politician is going to say we've only had 10 murders and 20 people killed on the roads ands perfectly fine. I get the impression that McGowan is going to hold off longer than the others. He genuinely believes he's doing the right thing but of course not everyone agrees with him.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Oh, because you are so smart and talented. The next Nobel, I presume.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Whaaaaat?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Neither intend to stay covid zero forever. Just until vaccination coverage is met. The only difference between either and NSW, is what % target they intend to open their borders at.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
I am sure it is seen as an insult to Argentina. Particularly given the famous Latin temperament. However over here it was seen as incompetence from SAANZAR. Which frankly is what is was. Us rugby fans do appreciate all the extra effort Los Pumas have gone through this year and last year to keep the competition alive. So we care.
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
Great! Kinda joking though Pk
Vman2
Roar Rookie
I actually think this is feasible. SAANZAR are not exactly showering themselves with accolades of the competence lately. Add in the language barrier and I think it is possible. It's possible they didn't know they were crossing a state line and it's possible they didn't realise the consequences. In fact, even QLD locals have been caught by this. There is nothing warning you as you leave QLD that you may not be allowed back in. That said, even if they didn't know about the state border, wasn't there some team rule limiting their travel? One of them is a team manager! What the? It would be really interesting to know.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
I love that idea Jonty. Make it 7 points for a try just to set the expectation of what style we want. Any chance of ringing in a few All Black reserves as well? Particularly anyone in the 4 teams that didn't get a RC game.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
"I’m pretty sure their policy isn’t isolation forever." - if you are referring to WA then I admire your optimism. If you are referring to QLD then I am sure this IS the policy of the Premier - it just isn't the policy of the rest of the 5 million inhabitants.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This isn't my view. It's the estimate based on current rates of administration. It's not expecting anything, other than continuing on at their current "slow" rate and getting there 1-2 months behind NSW and Vic. Agree on the second point. My concern is too many unvaccinated children means it spreads more quickly among unvaccinated adults, with more potential transmissions. But I know 2 fifths of FA about this so treat what I say with many grains of salt.