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Michael Hooper, Matt Toomua to hold talks with top Kiwi players about trans-Tasman future next week

Michael Hooper. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wallabies veterans Michael Hooper and Matt Toomua are set to meet with some of New Zealand’s top players next week to explore scenarios for trans-Tasman fixtures to be held later this year.

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According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hooper, who captained Australia to last year’s World Cup in Japan, and Toomua will be joined by Rugby Union Players Association president Damien Fitzpatrick on a call with their Kiwi counterparts.

In the absence of the suspended Super Rugby, the possibility of combining the two nations’ domestic competitions featuring their Super Rugby franchises is expected to be discussed.

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RUPA boss Justin Harrison told the Herald that he has been talking with New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol regarding such a prospect.

“I’ve been talking with Rob about the potential for a competition between the two countries and their view is very encouraging about wanting to reach out and have senior player interaction,” Harrison told the Herald.

“We are scheduling a call for next week so Hoops, Toomua, Fitzy and other players from our side can talk with senior New Zealand players to start to develop a framework around player desires for involvement.

“We’d all like to present something that has support from the playing groups and feel this is a good way to start that.”

After SANZAAR halted Super Rugby after seven rounds of action in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, both Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby have been working on starting respective domestic competitions in the coming months.

According to the Herald, a start date for a competition featuring all four Australian franchises and the Western Force is expected to get underway in July, while revelations were made on Friday about a potential New Zealand competition featuring up to eight professional teams being played nationwide.

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1256063510380867584

The formation of an Australasian Super Rugby competition could provide a much-needed boost to the coffers of both governing bodies on either side of the ditch.

NZR yesterday posted a loss of NZ$7.4m for 2019, while RA announced a A$9.4m loss in that same timeframe last month.

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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.

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