Japan Welcomed into New Comp

Japan will take its first steps towards playing a part in a new Australian Provincial Championship (APC) when they play Super 14 sides the ACT Brumbies and Perth's Western Force next year.

The Australian Rugby Union and New South Wales reached an agreement on Thursday over an elite competition to better prepare players for Super 14 and international rugby.

NSW had a list of concerns about the event and were initially unimpressed about suggestions that Japan's national team could be invited to field a team in New Zealand's NPC competition, but those concerns were resolved at Thursday's lengthy meeting

I hope they play the game here in Perth. Mind it would be nice for Darwin or Adelaide to get a piece of the action though. No more game's in Melbourne though, I hear they are getting a Brumbies game. :confused:

Of course Perth should get it! Mind you, Adelaide have a good union following, I think they are worthy of a game, but as you've said - no more games in Melbourne!

Latest news - competition kicks of 9th September and finals on the 21st October!

It will be interesting to watch these games against the likes of Japan. Arguably they will develop the Force players more for Wallaby selection rather than Super 14 as the Japanese style of play is quite different to the traditional Aus, SA and NZ patterns.
Also would appear that with the extended Tri Nations the Wallaby players would be available to each franchise for just the second half of the APC season so will be interesting to see what criteria the players have to pass to be eligible to play in the APC matches. Perhaps just whether they are in the Spring Touring Squad or not?

Wow - that'll fill the void we've been having the last couple months!

1 to 13 professional games in a year! If this keeps on going we are goin g to be a proper Rugby state!

The mail is there will be East and West Japan teams , they will play game against NSW Country Cockatoos and Queensland Country Heelers as well on tour.

why should the Force play in Adelaide??? More Force games in Sydney I say!!!

With the PI 6 nations being put in place as a fixture to include Japan , then the possibility of regional Japanese teams touring Oz on the way and playing Oz S14 teams is greatly increased for the June period. Force should invite any such Japanese teams to Perth for such warm-up trials. Adelaide could do same. It seems that with the advent of PI 6 and APC in '06 , Rugby Oz is entering a new era of possibilities , which the ARU is being coy about regarding its success. It almost seems that they are afraid of negative outcomes , when rugby followers know that finally the corner and tables are being turned, and the new competitions and new Force franchise will be hugely successful - in time.
What I'd like to see is some marketing. Getting the word out there. Some promotion of the package. I'd also love to see the ABC get the rights for the APC so that its seen all over Oz and doesn't get buried by commercial stations for a 1am timeslot!
I've seen the ABC cover a 7's tournament in NT , and do a good job.

oh yeah....all these games......has anyone got a spare liver??????????