The Argentinian Rugby Union will be praying for hefty gate takings from their tests against the All Blacks and Wales next month as they face up to a serious economic crisis.
The UAR is facing a seizure of all its bank accounts until it covers a debt of 1.6 million Argentinian pesos after losing a court case which arose from a young player becoming a quadriplegic playing rugby.
Jose Bustamante's lawyers brought the case against the UAR and won it, and as a result, the national union is trying to rebuild its finances in an effort to save the institution.
The All Blacks are scheduled to play what should be a lucrative one-off test at a 50,000-capacity stadium in Buenos Aires on June 24. All indications from Argentina is that it should be a sellout.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand told NZPA it was full steam ahead with planning for the test, a crucial one in the team's Tri-Nations buildup.
He said the NZRU would soon be in contact with their Argentinian counterparts for an update on the situation.
There was no indication the test was under threat.
Under International Rugby Board rules, the host union pays all costs for touring sides from the time they land in the country.
UAR president Alejandro Risler, who has only been in office for four months, gave an insight into the crisis facing his union today.
"The seizure has put us in a tough situation," he was quoted as saying on the website.
"We had to give priority to all our creditors instead of just one."
The judge allowed the UAR to continue with its business under judicial protection until it finds the way to meet its debt to all its creditors.
" It is painful to talk about the game as we are talking now, but the UAR's position as an institution was in serious jeopardy and the game itself in Argentina was also in jeopardy," Risler said.
"It was a very tough decision for me personally. I am convinced that it was the only way out and that's why we took that decision."