Wallabies-Pumas Test to go ahead despite Argentinians stranded in NSW

Saturday's Rugby Championship Test between Australia and Argentina has been given the green light despite six Pumas players - including former captain Pablo Matera - and two staff members being left stranded in NSW after visiting Byron Bay days out from the tournament finale.

The group had travelled in a bus to a Byron Bay health retreat, and tried to re-enter the Sunshine State without appropriate documentation before being forced to spend Wednesday night in a Kingscliff hotel.

Restrictions on cross-border travel were loosened this week, but only for residents of Tweed Heads, Byron Bay and Queensland travelling for work, education, care or essential shopping.

The Pumas' day trip to Byron Bay did not fall into any of these categories.

MORE RUGBY UNION

SANZAAR officials were left frustrated by the "direct breach" of health protocols but confirmed while six players will be ineligible, the Pumas will still field a team to face the Wallabies at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

Star flanker Matera, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Sebastian Cancelliere, Santiago Medrano, and Santiago Socino are the players ruled out of the clash. Manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martnez round out the group.

Argentina rugby officials must work with the Queensland government to get the group across the border so they can travel home with the team, or move the remainder of the touring party to Sydney where the two groups can link up.

"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," a SANZAAR statement said.

"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."

The venue capacity for Robina Stadium has been reduced to 75 per cent for the game, in line with Queensland health level two protocols following a recording of COVID-19 cases. With a revised capacity of 20,767, Rugby Australia and Ticketek are working to reduce capacity accordingly on a 'first-in' basis from when tickets were purchased.

"We're pretty much in a bubble now. Obviously while we've been in the hotel, we've been wearing masks everywhere. Now we're pretty much locked down," Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said.

"We've all been tested again today, we've had regular testing throughout. We're doing everything we can to ensure the games go ahead and we're following all the expected protocols.

"The protocols were different yesterday. No one can come in, no one can go out.

"It changes constantly. Even last week or the week before, when there was a couple of cases somewhere in Queensland, we had a couple of days where no one was in, no one was out. It's been a constant where we adjust based on the expectations."

Argentina rugby officials have launched an internal process "to clarify what happened and determine the corresponding responsibilities".

THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday: Australia v Argentina at 5.05pm; South Africa v New Zealand at 8.05pm. Both games at Robina Stadium.

Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Darcy Swain, 6. Pete Samu, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Rob Valetini, 9. Nic White, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Andrew Kellaway, 12. Samu Kerevi, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Reece Hodge. Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Matt Philip, 20. Sean McMahon, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Tom Wright.

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