Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has called up 30 players for the forthcoming European tour.

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda claims they came close to pulling the plug on their prestigious match with the British & Irish Lions later this month because of mounting frustrations over player availability.

The Argentinian national team have lost three key players for the May 23 duel against the Lions in Cardiff.

The Argentinian national team have lost three key players for the May 23 duel against the Lions in Cardiff.

Leinster will be glad to hear that their Heineken Cup opponents Bourgoin have allowed Augusto Petrilli to join up with Argentina as one of just five overseas based players to make the flight to Buenos Aires for Saturday's international against South Africa.

IT’S claimed there were 10,000 Irish people among the 28,803 attendance in the Adelaide Oval for the World Cup clash of Ireland and Argentina on October 26 last year.

Argentina have named an unchanged side to face Ireland following their 24-14 win over Six Nations champions France in Marseille.

France 14 Argentina 24

The Argentine Rugby Union have announced a 25-man squad for their European tour next month.