NZRU Statement regarding Australian Rugby Union
Don’t know about anyone else but I am sick and tired of the New Zealand Rugby Union trying to take the high moral ground on everything concerning Trans Tasman Rugby.
For example, the latest message from Kiwi HQ concerned “our” (Australia’s) lack of support for the 2011 bid (see statement below).
If my memory serves me correct, when Australia hosted the 2003 World Cup it was New Zealand who failed to come to agreement re ground signage and therefore it was New Zealand who forfeited the right to co-host this event. It caused, at the eleventh hour, Australia having to find more grounds, more accommodation, more money, more volunteers, more officials etc etc yet not a word from the NZRU or the NZ public in recognition of the great recovery effort or any public regret for not holding up their end of the bargain.
Yet now the NZ short term memory portrays it as being Australia’s fault and how we’ve let down the SANZAR “brotherhood”. Did you see us crying in our porridge back in ’03 when the NZRU let us down? No folks, we just got on with the job and decided to beat them on the paddock instead.
Australia, in my opinion, should stand by their decision to have voted for Japan as two World Cups within ten years in the same region (both in top five nations) does nothing for the growth of the game globally.
The hypocrisy from the NZRU is unfathomable! Where were they in 2003, why weren’t they standing beside us in hosting that World Cup.
And apart from the “Old Boys Club” excuse, they still haven’t given us a legitimate reason that we shouldn’t have voted for Japan.
It shows the gulf between the NZRU and the ARU, NZ believes in themselves, we believe in Rugby. New Zealand now has the blood of the second tier nations on their hands and will be complicit in denying the growth of the game over the next decade.
To further demonstrate their short sightedness, when the earlier proposal for a Super 8 was floated (Four Australian Provinces, three Pacific Islands and Japan) New Zealand vetoed it on the grounds that the IRB would be, by extension, putting money and development into Australian Rugby. No matter that this stand point has denied the opportunity of a meaningful competition for the nations that the NZRU love to claim to foster as “brothers”. Now we are faced with the proposal of some washed out six nation format, but this is okay because New Zealand A would get a crack. I bet the NPC Clubs will be “really” happy to lose not only their rested All Blacks but also their NZ A players as well.
If the NZRU is so concerned with the development of Pacific Rim Nations then perhaps they should open up opportunities within there NPC format for extra International teams.
Fair enough deny Australia any higher competition (we’ll continue to look after ourselves) but don’t be so narrow minded as to choke your second tier neighbours.
How will you get future recruits into the All Blacks if you aren’t developing them in their home nations? Oh, that’s right, the PI players “choose” to go to NZ to play. In this day and age there should be enough money and opportunity in International Rugby that we have the structures in place to allow these young players to play for their own nations and own clubs with pride and passion.
Maybe deep down, behind all this verbal bravado by the NZRU, is the undeniable fact, Australia 2 World Cups - New Zealand 1! (Without any “decent” forwards :iconrofl: )
NZRU Statement regarding Australian Rugby Union
09/12/2005
allblacks.com
The New Zealand Rugby Union has reaffirmed its concerns regarding the Australian Rugby Union's decision to not support New Zealand's Bid to host Rugby World Cup 2011.
ARU Chairman Dilip Kumar resigned from his position at yesterday’s meeting of the ARU Board.
NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs said: “Despite some previous media comment, our concern was that the ARU Board chose to support Japan in the RWC 2011 vote, so from that perspective, the resignation of Mr Kumar does not change our position nor alleviate our concerns about the ARU’s decision.”
Mr Hobbs said these concerns have been delivered to the ARU Board in writing.
“I have written to the ARU Board through Mr Kumar outlining our concerns and the damage this decision has done to the Australia-New Zealand relationship.”
The NZRU will not be making any further comment on Mr Kumar’s resignation.
ps. Following the Marseilles loss I have now renounced my French accent…..
