Rugby officials apologise for photo mistake that Argentina said disrespected them

Leaving the Argentina captain out of a photo last week has had huge ramifications.

SANZAAR and Rugby Australia have issued a formal apology to the Argentinian team for a photo snub that infuriated the Pumas and led to an outburst from their coach Mario Ledesma.

After losing to the Wallabies in Townsville on Saturday night, Ledesma, a former Australian assistant coach, said his country had been disrespected by a decision to press on with a Rugby Championship captains photo shoot last Friday despite the fact Pumas’ skipper, Julian Montoya, wasn’t there.

Argentina had yet to arrive in Townsville due to a flight delay.

“We’re always travelling, we never complain, but we feel sometimes we’re getting treated with disrespect and we just continue, cop it on the chin,” Ledesma said on Saturday night.

“They made a video, everyone is joking, having a good time and our captain is not there … and nobody said anything.”

The photo opportunity had been pre-organised and in a joint statement released by SANZAAR and RA on Monday, the two bodies said the decision to push ahead with the shoot was so that a photo of New Zealand captain Ardie Savea and Springboks leader Siya Kolisi standing together could be taken ahead of the 100th Test between the two nations.

A photo of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper in a First Nations jersey was also taken, with the purpose of using it to promote the game against Argentina.

Michael Hooper of the Wallabies in the other photo taken in Townsville. Picture: Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images

SANZAAR claimed there was a communication breakdown when a photograph was taken of the three attending captains minus the Argentina skipper alongside the Rugby Championship trophy.

“SANZAAR and Rugby Australia management would like to apologise to Argentina Rugby for the error that led to a photograph being published in the media that misrepresented The Rugby Championship in that it omitted Argentina,“ the statement said.

“SANZAAR and Rugby Australia take full responsibility for this error and acknowledge that it should not have happened and fully understand Argentina Rugby’s disappointment over this matter after the image appeared in the media.

“A photo session was organised for the day before the Round 5 matches in Townsville on Friday 24 September. Unfortunately, a late travel change then meant that the Argentina captain could not make the designated time for the photo session.

“However, during the photo session, a communications breakdown led to a photograph being taken of the three attending captains with the trophy, minus the absent Argentina captain.

Argentina's coach, Mario Ledesma. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP

“SANZAAR would like to publicly state that no disrespect was intended and indeed would like to thank Argentina Rugby for its unselfish and committed contribution to The Rugby Championship, highlighted by the fact that it has played all matches away from home over the last two years.”

Argentina is winless after five games of The Rugby Championship, and will be aiming to turn the tables on Australia when the two teams clash on the Gold Coast this Saturday.