Loose forward Javier Ortega Desio has been excluded from Argentina’s Rugby Championship training camp after he tested positive for Covid-19.

The UAR confirmed on Monday that the 57-cap back rower was initially named in coach Mario Ledesma’s 46-man locally-based training squad two weeks ago but never got into the camp.

To date, Los Pumas have completed two weeks of training in Buenos Aires and started their third week of training on Monday, subject to testing for all players as per the strict regulations imposed by the Argentinian government.

Ortega Desio will, however, not be involved in any form of training – instead he will remain in mandatory isolation.

‘The player never trained at Casa Pumas because he was fulfilling mandatory isolation,’ read the UAR statement.

‘In the days prior to the start of training he had presented symptoms such as fever and general malaise, which later confirmed the presence of the coronavirus.’

Sanzaar is hoping to run the Rugby Championship, which also features New Zealand, Australia and world champions South Africa, in November and December.

Travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in plans to stage the tournament in a single hub in New Zealand but a second coronavirus outbreak in Auckland has, temporarily at least, put that proposal on the backburner.

Photo: UAR