Six players to miss Australia v Argentina rugby union Test after visit to Byron Bay

Eight Argentinian players and staff have thrown Saturday’s rugby union Test against Australia into doubt after being locked out of Queensland following a day trip to Byron Bay.

Rugby officials are confident Saturday’s Test match between the Wallabies and Argentina will go ahead despite the Pumas’ Byron Bay border bungle that Saturday’s Test match against Australia on the Gold Coast into doubt and left six players locked out of Queensland.

Eight members of the Los Pumas – two coaches and six players – are stuck in Covid-ravaged NSW after driving to Byron on Wednesday from their Coast training base.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the six players would not be playing at the weekend, with all eight personnel not being allowed back into Queensland after their bizarre day trip to Byron Bay

The Argentinians caught up in the drama are Sebastián Cancelliere, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Socino, manager Lucas Chioccarelli and video analyst Rodrigo Martinez.

They are understood to have crossed the border but were refused re-entry to Queensland by checkpoint cops.

They were forced to spend Wednesday night at a Kingscliff resort amid high-level talks to try to resolve the embarrassing situation, as the dispute escalated into an international incident.

Argentina has travelled to Australia with a 44-man playing squad, meaning they will have the depth to cover the losses even if affected players are denied a quarantine exemption to return to Queensland

Juan Martin Gonzalez of Argentina skips out of a tackle during The Rugby Championship match between the Australian Wallabies and Argentina Pumas at QCB Stadium last Saturday. Picture: Ian Hancock / Getty Images

It’s understood the Argentinians believed they had a health exemption to travel to Byron but did not have return border passes.

Queensland Health reinstated the so-called border bubble for Tweed Heads and Byron Bay from 1am on Wednesday.

But this means residents of the shires and Queenslanders travelling to these areas can only cross the border for work, education, compassionate care and essential shopping.

It does not mean recreational day trips are allowed.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young will now have to decide whether to let the team back into Queensland.

Gold Coast police acting chief superintendent Rhys Wildman said the Argentinians were not under police guard at Kingscliff but officers were ready to escort them to hotel quarantine if directed.

Byron Bay suffered another Covid scare only hours after coming out of lockdown when an infectious Gold Coast truck driver visited the town on his way home, sparking fears of a fresh outbreak in southeast Queensland.

In a statement, the UAR (Argentinian Rugby) confirmed the affected players would not rejoin their teammates until the tournament’s conclusion.

“All are in perfect health, staying in a hotel in the area, waiting for their condition to be resolved”.

“The UAR is making solving this problem a top priority.”

Queensland Health has been contacted for comment.

Argentina is expected to name its team for the Test later today.