GLASGOW WARRIORS summer signing Sebastian Cancelliere is one of eight members of the Argentina squad to be banned from the Rugby Championship in Queensland, Australia, after breaking Covid rules.
The group fell foul of the tournament’s strict biosecurity protocols by taking an unauthorised trip to Byron Bay, which involved the crossing of state lines into New South Wales.
Captain Pablo Matera was one of six players on the trip, alongside Cancelliere, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino, plus team manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martinez.
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The group had to stay in a hotel in New South Wales on Wednesday night after being stopped at the state border by police for failing to produce the required documentation.
The six players will miss Argentina’s final Rugby Championship match against Australia on Saturday and must remain in New South Wales until the team’s departure from the country on Sunday. Argentina are yet to win a game in this year’s tournament.
“Sanzaar has informed Argentina Rugby that all members of this group are now ineligible to participate further in The Rugby Championship as they have breached tournament rules,” said a statement from the governing body which oversees the Rugby Championship.
“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.”
Winger Cancelliere’s recruitment by Warriors was announced in April and he is due to link-up with the squad after the Rugby Championship. The 28-year-old has been capped 11 times by Argentina since his debut in 2017. His only appearance in this Rugby Championship was off the bench during the Pumas’ 32-12 defeat to South Africa in Port Elizabeth on 14th August.
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