Argentina, third at the 2007 World Cup, must wait at least four more years before they can join a major annual international tournament, an International Rugby Board official has said.

The only top 10 nation not involved in either the Six Nations or Tri-nations, Argentina had long hoped to be included in the elite European tournament because the leading Pumas play their club rugby in the northern hemisphere.

Mark Egan, head of IRB Rugby Services, said that Argentina's likelier destination was the Tri-nations competition with world champions South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"The natural fit is for Argentina, which lies in the south, to play in the southern hemisphere. Broadcast and commercial agreements really mean that the earliest mooted time would be post-Rugby World Cup 2011.

"It requires a transition period of planning and development and the first step is to increase the number of tests the Pumas play while SANZAR reviews its tournament structures."

SANZAR is the organisation that groups the Tri-nations contestants.

Egan is scheduled to visit Buenos Aires this week for meetings with the new Argentine Rugby Union board, elected less than two weeks ago, to discuss the way forward for Argentina.

This will involve a gradual build-up of professional structures for elite players and participation by Pumas A teams in tournaments such at the Churchill Cup and Nations Cup.

Reuters