Tokyo's taste of Bledisloe

[mudskipper]

Tokyo's taste of Bledisloe

Bret Harris | February 19, 2009
Article from: The Australian


ARU chief executive John O'Neill is close to finalising deals which will deliver a Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo and the first Wallabies grand slam tour of Britain and Ireland in 25 years.

The All Blacks beat the Wallabies in a historic Test in Hong Kong last November and the countries will play another Bledisloe Cup match offshore at the end of the year.

There were discussions about hosting the game in Denver in the US and Twickenham, but Tokyo appears to be the preferred venue.

The ARU has also been in discussions with England about adding a Test at Twickenham to the Wallabies' European tour, which already includes matches with Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

"Hopefully, in a matter of weeks. The end of March, the calendar will be done and dusted," O'Neill said.

"It's the uniqueness of playing the four home countries in sequence. We have been playing one-off Tests."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[blueandblack]

I was just researching stuff and had a thought. What if ARU offered a Bledisloe to say...India? Lots of money-spending people there. They could make up another team or 7 that would help rid us of the Saffers in S14 and the timezone is closer.

[beige]

I was just researching stuff and had a thought. What if ARU offered a Bledisloe to say...India? Lots of money-spending people there. They could make up another team or 7 that would help rid us of the Saffers in S14 and the timezone is closer.

Baby steps!

You're talking about a country with 15 000 players out of a population 1.1 billion, a large proportion of whom live in poverty, with no national league to speak of versus a country with 127 000 players, a predominantly middle class population and a highly cashed up national league...

[blueandblack]

Baby steps!

You're talking about a country with 15 000 players out of a population 1.1 billion, a large proportion of whom live in poverty, with no national league to speak of versus a country with 127 000 players, a predominantly middle class population and a highly cashed up national league...

But they have money (or at least the bookies do), they take sport seriously AND it's not Perth, so India is ideal for a Bledisloe.

[beige]

I see where you're going... carry on...

[jargan83]

But they have money (or at least the bookies do)

Have to get in contact with Shane Warne and Mark Waugh's old mate Gupta

[mudskipper]

India Twenty-20 rugby.... mmmmmmmmmmm......thats a BIG No from me.....

Ask the monkey..............................monkey says NO.....



Bring on TOKYO..............

[TOCC]

if this helps the ARU's overall balance then i am 100% ok with it, the next few years is going to devastate sport in Australia, NRL will be drastically different in the next few years, i cant see all the current clubs remaining with the debts they are carrying.

AFL is going to have to postpone there expansion plans, A-League is digging itself into a hole by expanding to rapidly.

If Rugby Union can just hold its own ground, without been devastated financially then it will come out bigger and brighter on the other side.

[GIGS20]

Yep, and the health of the international game is the key to holding ground TOCC

[TOCC]

definetly, the strength of the international game is the saving grace for rugby in Australia..

Although Soccer internationally is stronger, the fact that the Soceroos are so craptastic mitigates that advantage somewhat, rugby union is the strongest sport internationally in relation to Australia.

[oxleymoron]

In comparison between the wallabies and the socceroos, at least you don't end up watching Sydney and Brisbane 2nd grade rugby players playing internationals for the wallabies, like what happens with the socceroos from time to time.

[jargan83]

It's not a case of the actual Socceroos being crap, its highlights the difference between the A-League and European Competitions. For most games against the types of Bahrain and Indonesia etc A-League players get a run instead of the games against stronger football nations from around the world and thats when the big guns get a run. Unfortunately it is hard to get them back when games don't fall on FIFA match days, even when there is a small gap in the calander. Also why the Socceroos play "Home" friendlys in England at Fulham's Craven Cottage

NRL will be drastically different in the next few years, i cant see all the current clubs remaining with the debts they are carrying.

AFL is going to have to postpone there expansion plans, A-League is digging itself into a hole by expanding to rapidly.

Nor can I, some clubs will have to relocate or perish. The NRL still has a big carrot to lure a team to the Central Coast and apparently Adelaide is making a push to get a cash strapped club to move there.

Gold Caast for the AFL looks dead and buried for now

Cricket will always be in a strong position

I don't know what to make of the A-Leagues expansion, they put in place some pretty strict financial guidelines for the new clubs to able to join

[beige]

And they'll have the money from the expanded Asian Champions League as well (the FFA distributes a percentage of that to all of the clubs)...

[jargan83]

they sure will

Also the prize money for Adelaides run to the final of the Champions League is shared, although Adelaide do get the Lions share