Six Argentina players and two management staff have been kicked out of the Rugby Championship for breaching Covid restrictions in Australia.
Governing body SANZAAR says the eight team members crossed the Queensland border into NSW yesterday without exemptions and were stopped trying to re-enter Queensland.
The travel was a direct breach of the present Queensland Government health orders and SANZAAR's Rugby Championship tournament biosecurity plan.
"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," SANZAAR said in a statement.
SANZAAR has informed Argentina Rugby that all members of the group are now ineligible to participate further in the tournament but Saturday's rugby championship test between Australia and Argentina on the Gold Coast will proceed.
The Argentinean playing squad comprises 44 players and the team will announce the matchday squad for the match later today.
The Argentina rugby union said the players group comprised Pablo Matera, Sebastian Cancelliere, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino, the team manager's Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martinez.
Pablo Matera is one of six Pumas players kicked out of the Rugby Championship for a border breach. Photo: Photosport
They were forced to stay at a hotel in New South Wales overnight after being turned back at the Queensland border by police for failing to produce required documentation.
SANZAAR said they would remain in the state until rejoining the rest of the Argentina squad on Sunday ahead of their departure from Australia.
"All are in perfect health, staying in a hotel in the area, waiting for their condition to be resolved," the UAR said, adding it was a "top priority" to bring the players back to the camp.
"In parallel, an internal process has begun to clarify what happened and determine the corresponding responsibilities."
Argentina have lost all five matches they have played in the tournament.
The All Blacks play the Springboks again this weekend after narrowly beating them last week.
-RNZ/Reuters