I urge Argentina to relax the overseas player rule. The existing UAR policy blocks any player from playing for Los Pumas who does not play in Argentina. The only exceptions are when an individual has permission from the union to play abroad.

The ruling was brought into being to attract home leading players from Europe. This was firstly to enable the creation of a competitive Los Jaguares side and secondly to give Daniel Hourcade complete control over his players.

Pushing through the policy hard was Agustín Pichot. The former Pumas scrum half knows very well the problems that come from playing abroad. He captained Los Pumas to victory over England at Twickenham in 2006. On that occasion a number of his teammates only arrived in London on Tuesday, giving them three days with the team before the match.

Fourteen of the starting players that afternoon were contracted to clubs in Europe. The same was true of the side which toppled France to open the World Cup the following year. By 2015 this had changed. Of the side that faced New Zealand in Wembley four players remained in Europe post World Cup – Marcos Ayerza, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Juan Imhoff.

In 2016, Argentina’s home match against the same side was entirely local-based. In fact Replacement Tomás Cubelli was the only Puma in the competition based abroad. In November Juan Pablo Estelles was called-in as emergency cover. Injuries saw Argentina forced to start centers on both wings against England. Estelles was one of them.

In being contracted to Racing 92 until 2018 Imhoff was out of consideration. By way of comparison Estelles was on a medical joker contract with Northampton. He had an understanding with the UAR that he would return to Los Jaguares. The same is true of Felipe Arregui who was playing for Edinburgh at the time.

Estelles has since signed a new contract to remain in England until 2018. In doing so he joins Imhoff in being blocked from Pumas selection. Had Imhoff been available he would undoubtedly have started against not only England but also both Scotland and Wales in November.

Daniel Hourcade has defended the overseas player ban but does note that “Imhoff and two others would have been selected if available“. In addition to those who played at Wembley Patricio Fernández, Juan Figallo, Mariano Galarza, Axel Muller and Juan Pablo Socino are possibilities.

The creation of PladAR in 2008 has revolutionized Argentine rugby. It has transformed the sport from being strictly amateur to now being professional. Young talent is spotted and developed early on. They then go through the system of u20’s, Los Pumas 7’s and Argentina XV. From there the absolute best play for Los Jaguares and Los Pumas.

Yet the rock-solid agenda comes at a price. It is clear to be seen based on results. Los Pumas achieved a return of one win and five losses in the 2016 Rugby Championship. Then in November the team was winless in Europe.

The policy mirrors that of New Zealand. The double World Champions have five Super Rugby teams. Argentina has just the one. Neither Australia nor South Africa follow this policy. Australia used to do so but relaxed it in 2015, enabling Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell to convert their Toulon form into valuable gains for the Wallabies.

Australia’s change came at the request of Head Coach Michael Cheika. His comment at the time ought to be read by Hourcade and the UAR. “It’s important to first and foremost recognise those players who are currently making a daily contribution to rugby in Australia, but at the same time not discount those elite-level and experienced Test players who have already invested so much into the code over a long period.”

Cheka oversaw the implementation of a 60 test cap rule. Now South Africa has copied it but has set the cap rule at 30. The policy will come into force from July 1, 2017. Those abroad lacking this number of caps who have recently been Springboks include Marcell Coetzee, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch and Cobus Reinach. All must thereby return to South Africa mid-year or miss out.

Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, François Louw, JP Pietersen, Ruan Piennar and Duane Vermeulen are examples of active foreign based players with 30 or more caps.

Fernández Lobbe and Horacio Agulla have retired from test duty. Others have not. As such a 30 cap rule would see Ayerza, Bosch and Imhoff Manuel Carizza qualify. If the mark were to be 25 then Mariano Galarza would also be eligible. Both Juan Figallo and Facundo Isa have 24 caps. Surely toleration could come into play for them?