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http://thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=13
23rd January 2007, 8:45 WST
By Dave Hughes
Perth will be considered for rugby’s Bledisloe Cup if the State Government’s proposed stadium holds more than 60,000 people, Australian Rugby Union chief Gary Flowers revealed yesterday.
Flowers said the annual Wallabies-All Blacks showdown — the crown piece of the domestic rugby program — required a world-class venue to ensure it retained the cachet which has made it the most sought-after and lucrative match among Australia’s football codes, given its enormous international appeal.
Such is the importance the ARU attaches to the Bledisloe Cup that it would guarantee Perth additional Test matches over several years.
“There’s no reason it couldn’t be held in Perth in the future,” Flowers said.
“It no longer belongs only to Sydney. It is becoming a national match.”
Flowers said financial return was not the only criterion in determining the venue for the cup contest.
“If it was, we wouldn’t send it to Brisbane this year, or to Melbourne next year,” he said, mindful the world-record crowd for a Test match of 107,000 was set at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium in 1999.
Although the capacity has since been reduced, the demand for the contest in Sydney is such that ticket prices have soared.
“The issue is not simply one of money,” Flowers said. “We don’t want to hawk the Bledisloe Cup match to the highest bidder.
“We act in the best interests of rugby and its promotion.
“We are aware of the game’s enormous development in Perth and that the fans there would love to see the Bledisloe contest one day.
“In years to come it would be appropriate to send it, and even a British Lions Test, to Perth if there was a suitable new stadium.”
Flowers said the staging of a Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth would not be a one-shot wonder.
“We’d sit down with the State Government and do a package of other matches, leading up to the big game,” he said.
The return of the Tri-Nations Test against South Africa to Perth is also on the ARU’s schedule. A pattern had formed of a Wallabies-Springboks match at Subiaco Oval every second year but, after granting Perth a Test against Ireland last year, the ARU has granted WA a less-desirable encounter between Australia and World Cup pool opponent Fiji on June 9.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Bring on a super stadium damn it...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
Build it and they will come
not
think about looking into building as cheap as can get away with when they get here
That world record crowd, in 1999 107042.
I was there
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Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
I support this, I Would like to see Australia A games in Darwin, To make RUgby more popular there. I would like that to happen. I didn't want Melbourne having it this year.
Oh my god, that'd be sweet!
I want to be unique - just like everybody else!
This would not be a Rugby Stadium
but the FOODY ground that would be used.
Originally Posted by Exile
I still love the John Williamson recording of Waltzing Matilda from that game....
AWESOME>>>
Originally Posted by O'Regan
Worlds hottests 7's there this weekend...
and some is being televised on ( I think ABC 2)
Last edited by travelling_gerry; 24-01-07 at 19:33. Reason: Automerged Doublepost