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Bret Harris | November 05, 2009
Article from: The Australian
THE ARU has invited England to bring an expanded squad to Australia next year to play two midweek games on its tour, which will help both countries develop depth for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
England will play two Tests against the Wallabies in Perth and Sydney next June in the lead-up to the Tri Nations tournament.
It is likely that England will play against Australia A or state teams in midweek games in Perth and Sydney.
The Australia A team played in the Pacific Nations Cup last year, but the program was disbanded because of financial reasons.
However, Australia A matches with England would be good drawcards. Australia A beat the British and Irish Lions 28-25 in Gosford in 2001, while the tourists defeated Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Western Force and NSW Country.
The English have also been invited to play midweek against New Zealand Maori in the lead-up to a Test against the All Blacks.
The Wallabies are playing two midweek games against Gloucester and Cardiff on their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland to develop depth for the World Cup.
England has indicated it is keen to play midweek games in both Australia and New Zealand as part of its World Cup build-up.
But the Rugby Football Union would have to negotiate the release of players from the English premier clubs to bring out an expanded squad.
England also has other international commitments to consider, including the Churchill Cup in North America and the World Under-20 championship in Argentina about the same time.
"We are in active discussion with our clubs and other partners about how we could make this happen," an RFU spokesman said.
Meanwhile the Waratahs have signed New Zealand-born back-five forward Cam Jowitt, who played alongside Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom at Irish province Leinster.
The 201cm Jowitt will mainly play second row, but he has the ball-carrying skills and speed to play blindside flanker as well.
Jowitt, 26, has Australian ancestry, which means he does not take up a foreign import spot.
He will add depth to the Waratahs' second row ranks, which include Dean Mumm, Will Caldwell, Chris Thomson, Kane Douglas and South African Hendrik Roodt.
Australia is among eight countries to express interest in hosting the World Cup Sevens in 2013.
The other nations are Argentina, Brazil, Germany, China, Russia, Scotland and the US.
The strong interest in hosting the sevens showpiece follows the IOC's decision to include the abbreviated version of the game in the Olympic Games, starting in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
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