Phelan re-named Pumas coach

Buenos Aires - Santiago Phelan was rewarded for Argentina reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals when he was re-appointed to the job on a two year contract on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old former international centre will lead the Pumas into their first ever Four Nations tournament next year where they will play the Southern hemisphere giants recently-crowned World Cup winners All Blacks, the Springboks and the Wallabies.

Phelan, who replaced Marcelo Loffreda after the 2007 World Cup when they reached the semi-finals, will prepare for the Four Nations with a home Test against Italy on June 9 and two against World Cup finalists France on June 16 and 23.

They open their Four Nations campaign against two-time world champions South Africa on August 18 in Durban.