Phelan resigns as Argentina coach

Argentina head coach Santiago Phelan has resigned from his position with immediate effect on Monday ending a five-year tenure.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has resigned from his position with immediate effect on Monday ending a five-year spell in charge, the Argentinian Rugby Federation (UAR) announced.

The 39-year-old – who guided the Pumas to the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals after succeeding Marcello Loffreda- had been widely expected to step down when his contract came to an end in December.

Rafael Laria, the UAR spokesman, told AFP that Phelan would not take charge of Argentina's November Tests which sees them play England at Twickenham on November 9, Wales a week later at the Millennium Stadium and Italy in Rome on November 23.

Phelan, who is due to give a press conference on Tuesday, has just come off the Rugby Championship tournament where the Pumas lost all six of their games to the southern hemisphere heavyweights New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in what was their second season of participation.

He enjoyed success as a player, being capped 44 times at flanker by his country and played all his club rugby for Club Athletico San Isidro.

The Argentina Rugby Union was expected to name a replacement as soon as Tuesday.