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Argentine flier Juan Imhoff started the new season well. He scored for Racing 92 who won their opening round fixture against Castres on Saturday. The 2016 French champions did not have a strong pre-season but their win over Castres came when it matters most.
Due to still playing his rugby in France, Imhoff is not eligible for international duty. This means he is not involved in the current Rugby Championship. Moreover, he has not played for his country since Rugby World Cup 2015.
The UAR’s player selection policy came into effect at the beginning of the Japan 2019 cycle. It saw all players not playing for Los Jaguares requiring permission to play their rugby abroad. In 2016 this saw Tomás Cubelli, Juan Pablo Estelles and Felipe Arregui granted permission. Presently no foreign-based players have permission.
The loss of Imhoff was felt in 2016 when Daniel Hourcade was forced to name players out of position to cover for injured wingers. The lack of wins under the new policies has resulted in heavy criticism. The UAR, nonetheless, remains firm in blocking those outside of Argentina from being considered for international duty.
