Pumas' problems persist, says Ledesma
'The UAR haven't understood our demands'
Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma has confirmed that the Pumas will give their all in their scheduled Test matches against Wales and New Zealand but reiterated that their dispute with the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) has yet to be resolved.
Ledesma, one of the ringleaders of the industrial action, met with Pumas manager Richard Handley. In the meeting, the Pumas agreed to take the field. All 60 players will be available for selection if needed.
But Ledesma said that the initial conditions proposed by Handley were not acceptable.
"We'll play but we haven't accepted the offer UAR made to us," he told www.rugbyfun.com.ar.
"After the Test matches we'll continue negotiating. We've met Ricardo Handley and we decided we'll play, but not because of the new offer they made.
"We players think the offer is only to solve the financial problem and that isn't the most important thing."
Handley told Ledesma and his team-mates that UAR recognises it owes one million pesos ($342,000) to the players.
But the union offered to pay only half the total and said that players based in Argentina would only be eligible to 700 pesos per month ($230), a full scholarship for universities and access to free healthcare.
"Today, we don't know how we'll get to the Rigby World Cup and that makes us feel bad," said Ledesma.
"We want to go to the tournament in the best form and I cannot assure you that it'll be that way.
"The UAR haven't understood our demands yet. Money is only one of the things we're fighting for."
Argentina will face Wales on June 11 in Puerto Madryn and June 17 in Buenos Aires. They then host the All Blacks in the capital on June 24.
By Agustín Noriega
