IRB provides $10m to ease Pumas' passage into Tri-Nations

The package, worth $10million, is to support the addition of the Pumas to the tournament, which includes southern hemisphere giants New Zealand, Australia and world champions South Africa who operate under the Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) banner.

IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset had announced the proposal at the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona on 9 March and the money will be split into four annual payments from 2012-2015.

There has been a clamour to allow the Pumas to join either the Six Nations or Tri Nations since their outstanding performances at the 2007 World Cup in France, where they beat the host nation twice, Ireland and Scotland on their way to a third-place finish, with the IRB establishing a Working Accord to help that process.

"This announcement represents another significant milestone in the process of Argentina's integration into the Tri Nations and is an extremely exciting development for the Union Argentina de Rugby (UAR) and rugby fans around the world," said Lapasset.

"The IRB recognises the substantial strategic financial and operational commitment that the Sanzar Unions are making to assist Argentina's inclusion and we will continue to work in close collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable financial platform to make Argentina's transition as smooth as possible."

The IRB will now continue to work with Sanzar to ensure all conditions for Argentina's entry are met. The UAR and Sanzar have also asked the game's governing body to amend its regulations on player release to ensure Argentina internationals are available to take part in the tournament, a matter that will be looked at by an IRB Council meeting on 12 May.

"It is now essential that all elements are delivered, including the participation of Argentina's top players. I would like to express my thanks to Sanzar for its continued commitment to the process," added Lapasset.