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I think this to be further good news for the increased standard of rugby across Australia.
The more exposure our players get to higher levels of competition, the more they will lift the standard when they go back to their feeder clubs and the more battle ready they will be when selected for a Super 14 squad.
From The Australian via Fox Sport:
THE Australian Rugby Union is looking at relaunching the Australian Provincial Championship in an expanded format as early as June-July next year.
The four Australian Super 14 teams - Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force - are scheduled to play in the inaugural championship in September-October, minus their Wallabies.
But the ARU is considering a new competition of up to 10 national and provincial teams to be played in June-July.
It is understood the new competition could possibly include three NSW teams, two Queensland teams, ACT, Western Australia, Japan and Pacific Island nations.
The ARU initially wanted the provincial championship to be played in June-July, but was opposed by the powerful NSWRU, which prefers the September-October timing because it does not intrude on the strong Sydney club competition.
But the other state unions are not happy with that timing, nor are the players.
A poll by the players association shows the majority would rather play in the more convenient June-July window.
The players are expected to forward a petition to the ARU shortly.
"I don't want to pre-judge it," ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said yesterday.
"We are embarking on an extensive, stake-holder process. We are investing significant funds and we will come up with a model which is a positive outcome for Australian rugby.
"It is not an extra competition, but a more extensive competition. We have left it very open. It has to be affordable. Whether there are six, eight or 10 teams is something we have to look at."
The ARU had indicated it was prepared for an Australian A team to be part of the new Pacific Five Nations tournament, which involves Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and a New Zealand representative team.
But the Pacific tournament is being played in June-July, which would potentially conflict with the new Australian competition.
"The IRB wanted us to make a three-year commitment," Flowers said. "We put them on notice we will develop a national competition of some sort, possibly as early as 2007.
"We didn't want to get into a situation where we would take out the Wallabies and all of the other players as well.
"We were happy to play in it, but they insisted on a three-year commitment and we could not make it unless it was played at a time to suit. They have left the door open to us to participate." Meanwhile, fans in 41 countries across the Asia-Pacific will be able to watch live coverage of the Super 14 and Tri-Nations under a five-year agreement with ABC Asia-Pacific.