Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Castle flags possible Aussie rugby return dates

Wallabies super-subs Nic White and Matt To'omua. (Photo by Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)

Rugby has jokingly asked for a second oval on the NRL’s “Fantasy Island” as they plan for a potential July return – more than a month later than their rugby league counterparts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has flagged a July or August kick-off for a domestic Super Rugby alternative and hopes a three-match Bledisloe Cup series is still possible later this year.

RA, who have stood down 75 per cent of staff and cut player salaries by about 60 per cent on average, could lose $1.2 million in revenue if no more games are possible this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Video Spacer

Brumbies prop Scott Sio speaks about life in lockdown.

Brumbies prop Scott Sio talks about salary cuts and other issues surrounding the COVID-19 lockdown

Video Spacer

Brumbies prop Scott Sio speaks about life in lockdown.

Brumbies prop Scott Sio talks about salary cuts and other issues surrounding the COVID-19 lockdown

But their attitude towards a competitive return appears far more cautious than the NRL’s, which plans to resume training on May 4 and games from May 28.

“We’ve asked them to build a second oval on Fantasy Island there with them – we want to be playing on May 28 as well,” Rugby Union Players’ Association president Damien Fitzpatrick said.

“I don’t know where they’re planning on playing, but I spoke to a couple of the boys this morning and said ‘wherever they’re planning on playing I would love to make sure that we’re right there next to them’ because the guys are itching to play, that’s for sure.”

While a purely domestic league appears the most likely entree in “July or August”, Castle is eyeing off a trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition and Tests between the two nations as the main course later in the year.

ADVERTISEMENT

“A five week, seven week, 12 week type competition, hopefully of five or six teams,” Castle told rugby.com.au.

“That can give some real substance to finishing off what we started at the beginning of the year and really get the players back on the field so that they can engage in something that’s meaningful.

“We’ve got Test matches that look unlikely now in July (against Ireland and Fiji) … and certainly New Zealand is a target for us, playing the All Blacks … (in) that October or November time frame.”

– AAP

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
Search