British diplomats doubt that the region will offer more than rhetorical support to Argentina's claims.

ECONOMIST: Another diplomatic victory for President Fern��ndez

However, it was not in doubt that the region had produced many authoritarian regimes and, until last year, some fantastic rates of economic growth.

ECONOMIST: What would Confucius say now?

Marshall's Ospreys future was thrown into doubt last year when the region recruited Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips in a big-money deal.

BBC: Marshall makes Montpellier move