Players and staff from Argentina are locked out of Queensland three days out from a Test against the Wallabies

A day trip to Byron Bay has caused a mini-crisis ahead of Saturday’s Test between Australia and Argentina, with several banned from re-entering Queensland.

The Pumas line up for the Argentinian national anthem in Townsville. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

The Rugby Championship Test between the Wallabies and Argentina will go ahead on the Gold Coast this Saturday after players and staff members from the Pumas were banned from taking part after travelling across the NSW border to Byron Bay.

Six players and two staff crossed the Queensland-NSW border on Wednesday to attend a health retreat.

But as the players, including former Argentina captain Pablo Matera, tried to return to their training base on the Gold Coast, the group was stopped at the border and had to spend the evening at a hotel in Kingscliff.

Individuals are only allowed to enter northern NSW for essential work, medical reasons or on compassionate grounds.

The group, which didn’t have permission from Rugby Championship organisers Sanzaar to make the trip, didn’t have any of those reasons for travel.

On Thursday morning Sanzaar ruled the eight ineligible to participate further in the Rugby Championship and admonished them for the breach of protocols and violation of Queensland Government health orders.

“This travel across the state border is a direct breach of the present Queensland Government health orders and Sanzaar’s Rugby Championship tournament biosecurity plan,” Sanzaar said in a statement.

“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.

“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.”

“The group will now stay in New South Wales and will not be available for the round six match against Australia on the Gold Coast on Saturday. They will rejoin the rest of the touring squad on Sunday to fly back to Argentina.”

Later on Thursday, Rugby Australia confirmed the Test would proceed at 75 per cent crowd capacity in accordance with the Queensland Government’s new health directives.

The first 75 per cent of those to purchase tickets will be permitted to attend Saturday night’s Test, with other ticketholders to be contacted regarding refunds by Friday afternoon.

“It is going to be disappointing for people, but we have to take the health advice. The health advice is to move to stage two. Stage two says 75 per cent capacity, that’s what it will be,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Santiago Cordero in action for Argentina against the Wallabies. Picture: Matt Roberts / Getty Images

The Pumas were unaware they were not allowed to make a day trip out of the state and were turned back at the border and as yet are not allowed back into Queensland.

“Put really simply, they went into Byron Bay, they tried to come back in without the appropriate authorisations and approvals, so they were refused entry,” Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

“My understanding is they stayed at Kingscliff overnight. I‘m not aware of any exemption. If they are to come back today, they will have to abide by all the conditions which will include quarantine.

“At this stage they remain in New South Wales, with no exemption to get back in.”

Premier Palaszczuk said it was “very disappointing”.

“There are people they could have checked the rules with and now, unfortunately, they’re stuck in NSW,” she said.

The Wallabies also had their Covid-19 restrictions tightened as a precaution on Thursday.

Argentina has a big enough squad – 44 players – to cover the loss of the six players who cannot get back into Queensland.

It’s expected the tourists will name a 23-man team on Thursday. Saturday’s game is the Wallabies’ last match in the Rugby Championship.

Originally published as Players and staff from Argentina are locked out of Queensland three days out from a Test against the Wallabies