Test match rugby returns to Adelaide

[beige]

February 14, 2008

Test match rugby will return to Adelaide Oval and the venue could host a match between Australia and Italy next year, Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill said.

In Adelaide to launch the Rugby Sevens competition at the oval in April, O'Neill said officials were keen for the Wallabies to play again in South Australia after the success of the two matches played during the 2003 World Cup.

Australia are playing Tests against France and Ireland on home soil in 2008, but Italy are being considered as possible opponents for next year.

"We think the Wallabies against Italy (in Adelaide) would be a great event," O'Neill said.

The International Rugby Sevens in Adelaide on April 5-6 is part of the Sevens World Series with South Australia the only local stop on the circuit that includes Hong Kong, Wellington and San Diego.

O'Neill said the competition was highly valued in rugby with international officials pushing for modified game to be accepted as an Olympic sport.

"The sevens circuit is vital from that perspective," he said.

"But it also weaves threads of silk into the very fabric of our code.

"It is fast, action-packed and always entertaining.

"It is a game where size does not matter, where skill and speed take over."

O'Neill said the sevens was also vital to help grow and develop the game in non-traditional rugby countries.

"Nations like Kenya have emerged on the sevens circuit as highly competitive and capable of beating the best teams in the world," he said.

Australia is expected to continue with past practice and field a team of younger players in its sevens line-up, players O'Neill says will feature in the Wallabies team at some stage in the future.

But he said given the home-ground advantage in Adelaide, they would probably look to bolster the team with one or two more established stars.

AAP

Test match rugby returns to Adelaide - Rugby - Fox Sports

[AndyS]

Quite right too, but I'd like to see a bigger role for Aus A in spreading the games around too. We only get a couple of PNC games, but perhaps we and some of the second tier teams could shadow tour mid and end-year? It would be a great way to get high level games out to some of the locations that don't get regular Tests.

[oxleymoron]

A test in Adelaide? They mean cricket don't they? A bizzare concept such as this in SA means that I will have to attend. Just as long as its the Italian rugby team that tours and not the italian diving team.

[jargan83]

Sounds similar to the Australia A thing for the cricket, plenty of games but they always seem to be played in Brisbane and Adelaide. They should spread them around. I dont suppose the ARU is open to having Australia A vs someone at MES???

[AndyS]

Well, that's was certainly at the back of the mind although you'd want to add Canberra and a few other locations as well. Everyone says they'd love to get back to the old notion of touring, but it is tough to pull provincial teams together for mid-week games. So, substitute the A's - Aus AvWales at MES or Bruce anyone?

[Burgs]

Meanwhile he is bitching about Tests underselling and the ARU going broke

[gustafsl]

It's about bloody time!!!! Count me in.

[GIGS20]

A test in Adelaide? They mean cricket don't they? A bizzare concept such as this in SA means that I will have to attend. Just as long as its the Italian rugby team that tours and not the italian diving team.

The Italian diving team will all be playing in the Serie A and the EPL at that time of year won't they?

[TOCC]

Meanwhile he is bitching about Tests underselling and the ARU going broke

theres a lot more to it then that..

Think about it, the Adelaide Sevens is on in 2 weeks, what a better way to get free publicity in Adelaide then by announcing a test rugby match.

If this was held in Sydney or Brisbane it would barely draw 20'000, its better off going to somewhere like Adelaide.