French refuse to release Pumas for Boks test

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has decided not to enforce Regulation 9 which requires clubs to release their players to play for Argentina against South Africa in Buenos Aires on December 4.

Originally the IRB had said that Regulation 9 was to be enforced for this match.

The trouble began when Leinster and some affected French clubs declared they would not release their players because the Test fell outside of the IRB's window for international matches between November 13-27.

Cubs are reluctant to part with their Pumas as there are European matches - Heineken Cup, European Challenge Cup and Shield - scheduled for the weekend of December 2/3/4.

The Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) appealed to the IRB for help at the beginning of last week, asking it to obtain the release of the players.

But the management committee of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), the body organising professional rugby in France, met in Paris on Friday and reaffirmed its stance of not releasing Argentine players contracted to French clubs.

Asked for comment, the IRB's Head of Communications, Chris Rea, said: "I can now confirm that Regulation 9 will not be enforced for the match between Argentina and South Africa.

"As you may know, this match was arranged outside the schedule in order to assist the Pumas in their efforts to play an additional game against one of the Tier One countries.

"However, the FFR [French Rugby Federation] are working with the French clubs to make a number of the French-based Pumas available and this accommodation has been accepted by the UAR."