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IRB wants traditional tours
Rugby chiefs look to stop countries fielding weakened sides
The International Rugby Board are set to look at returning to 'traditional' tours in a bid to stop countries fielding weakened sides.
Australia and New Zealand have protested about the standard of squads the northern hemisphere unions have named for the June internationals in the past.
France have sent under-strength sides south for the past two seasons because of club commitments, while injuries forced England to face New Zealand with a shadow squad.
And with ticket sales being hit as a result, New Zealand and Australia have both considered cancelling future tours from Europe in protest.
However following a meeting of the 10 tier one countries at Heathrow the IRB are to investigate whether a return to traditional tours - with midweek warm-up matches - will work.
The IRB are also set to conclude discussions about the integration of Argentina into the Tri-Nations "as a matter of urgency" as well as look at hosting an international tournament in years of a Lions tour.
Solutions
The tournament would involve the countries not playing in the Lions tour, so 2009 would potentially see Argentina, France, Australia and New Zealand take on each other.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The meeting in Heathrow was both constructive and extremely positive and all the delegates demonstrated a clear collective willingness to work together to consider meaningful solutions.
"Building on the outcomes of the historic Global Season Forum at Woking last year, the group asked the IRB to work on three specific opportunities in detail - tours to the South in the June window; the creation of a tournament or a series of matches in a Lions year for unions not involved in the Lions tour and Argentina's full integration into the Tri Nations.
"It is incredibly complex. Finding solutions that allow for growth, a balanced schedule and the promotion of meaningful matches has been a challenge."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_4488954,00.html
Rugby chiefs look to stop countries fielding weakened sides
The International Rugby Board are set to look at returning to 'traditional' tours in a bid to stop countries fielding weakened sides.
Australia and New Zealand have protested about the standard of squads the northern hemisphere unions have named for the June internationals in the past.
France have sent under-strength sides south for the past two seasons because of club commitments, while injuries forced England to face New Zealand with a shadow squad.
And with ticket sales being hit as a result, New Zealand and Australia have both considered cancelling future tours from Europe in protest.
However following a meeting of the 10 tier one countries at Heathrow the IRB are to investigate whether a return to traditional tours - with midweek warm-up matches - will work.
The IRB are also set to conclude discussions about the integration of Argentina into the Tri-Nations "as a matter of urgency" as well as look at hosting an international tournament in years of a Lions tour.
Solutions
The tournament would involve the countries not playing in the Lions tour, so 2009 would potentially see Argentina, France, Australia and New Zealand take on each other.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The meeting in Heathrow was both constructive and extremely positive and all the delegates demonstrated a clear collective willingness to work together to consider meaningful solutions.
"Building on the outcomes of the historic Global Season Forum at Woking last year, the group asked the IRB to work on three specific opportunities in detail - tours to the South in the June window; the creation of a tournament or a series of matches in a Lions year for unions not involved in the Lions tour and Argentina's full integration into the Tri Nations.
"It is incredibly complex. Finding solutions that allow for growth, a balanced schedule and the promotion of meaningful matches has been a challenge."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_4488954,00.html
