Rugby-Argentina to prepare for World Cup in Valencia

MADRID, March 29 (Reuters) - Argentina will set up base in Valencia from Aug. 19-31 to finalise preparations for the rugby World Cup which starts in France at the beginning of September.

While there they will play a warm up game against a combined XV of top players from across Europe on Aug. 25.

An agreement with the local rugby federation also includes plans to use the city as the future base for Argentina, should their bid to be included in the current Six Nations tournament be approved.

"It's great news for Valencia if 'The Pumas' are accepted into the tournament. It would put the city on the rugby world map," Juan Castro, president of the federation, was quoted as saying on the Marca Web site on Thursday.

The rugby World Cup runs from Sept. 7-Oct, 20 and takes place mainly in France, with some games in Edinburgh and Cardiff. Argentina are in Group D along with France, Ireland, Georgia and Namibia.