The IRB held their global rugby forum in Woking this week with the Pumas' future near the top of the agenda following their remarkable third-place finish at the World Cup.
Argentina, ranked third in the world, are marginalised by a lack of inclusion in a major annual tournament and formally applied to join the Six Nations earlier this month.
The IRB have devised a four-year plan which will integrate them into the international calendar - with the Tri-Nations their ultimate destination.
'The forum agreed that the Pumas’ future lies in the southern hemisphere,' said an IRB statement.
Television rights to the Tri-Nations are to be renegotiated in 2010 and the combined Australia, New Zealand and South African unions are considering plans to expand.
Major logistical problems would arise from Argentina's involvement in a beefed-up Tri-Nations with the main stumbling block being that most Pumas are based in Europe.
But it is planned that this obstacle will be removed by the introduction of a competitive professional structure in Argentina.
'In the short term there are major hurdles to the integration of Argentina into the southern playing structure,' continued the statement.
'However, the Argentinian Rugby Union (UAR) have made a commitment to have their players contracted to the union and for the majority of their players to be based in Argentina by 2012.
'The forum agreed to assist the UAR to put in place pathways to get the players back to Argentina and to develop the next generation of home-grown Pumas.
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