Thursday 12 May 2016 12:01, UK
New World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot says the game's three-year residency rule is "wrong" and has called for it to be amended.
The former Argentina scrum-half was unveiled alongside new World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday.
And Pichot wasted no time in stating his opposition to one of rugby's major issues.
Under current rules, players who have yet to make an international appearance can play for a country they have no affiliation to, after playing in that country for three consecutive years.
Former Pumas captain Pichot wants the qualifying period extended to five years and believes more countries should follow the example of Argentina by refraining from selecting foreign players.
"Somebody will kill me but we need to change it," Pichot said. "I think it is wrong. It should be for life, like in football. I would understand a five-year [qualification period] and I think that will be on the agenda in the next six months.
"I think it is very important to keep the identity of our national teams. As a cultural thing, as an inspiration to new kids, I think having on your team players who have not lived [for long] in the country they are [representing] I think it's not right.
"There are special cases where players moved when they were ten or twelve years old but just moving to a country, being taken from an Academy, like they are doing in Tonga, and put into play, say, in an Ireland shirt, I'm against it. I think it is not right.
"I would love him to play in Tonga and make money playing for Tonga and live well.
"When I see the national anthem and people not singing it, it confuses me a little bit. I don't see in the near future Argentina having players from other countries."
