Rugby league shake-up could see Kangaroos, Kiwis dropped to play Pacific minnows
INTERNATIONAL rugby league is set for the biggest shake-up in the game’s history with a proposal that could reduce Australia from top to second tier status while other current minnow nations take the Kangaroos’ place.
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INTERNATIONAL rugby league is set for a shake-up with Australia, New Zealand and Tonga on the verge of taking part in a historic tri-nation series which would see the last-placed country relegated to play other Pacific nations.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) will present the proposal at a conference of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation in Auckland on Friday.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt the RLIF’s plan includes:
- Australia, New Zealand and Tonga to be grouped in one conference.
- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to play in another conference.
- A mid year Test between New Zealand and Tonga during the State of Origin period.
- A mid-year Test between two of Samoa, PNG and Fiji.
- Australia to play New Zealand and Tonga at the end of next year.
- Samoa, PNG and Fiji to have played each other once before the end of 2019.
- The winner will be decided on a round-robin style points system.
- The bottom placed team in the Australia, New Zealand and Tonga pool will be dropped down while the first-placed team in the Samoa, PNG and Fiji conference will be promoted the next time the tournaments are held.
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Representatives from all the nations including Australia will consider the proposal which could potentially see either the Kangaroos or Kiwis relegated as Tonga continues to grow as an international powerhouse
RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood said this was the first element of a five year international calendar.
“Most people would agree international rugby league is capable of doing more,” Wood said. “Right now represents a terrific opportunity to work with all the stakeholders in the game. What today is about is the Pacific Island nations reviewing the potential “Oceania Cup” to see if that meets their needs.
“There is a lot of consultation which still needs to happen. We know we have to go back and speak to clubs.
“It’s about taking advantage of an opportunity most people should happen in rugby league and deliver an international calendar which is compelling.
“The game is ready to talk about what international rugby league could look like. This is the first part of the consultation process.”
It is understood a Great Britain side will tour New Zealand next year but are not expected to play in Australia.
Australia play Tonga for the first time on Saturday night while the Kiwis and Tonga are yet to play since last year’s dramatic World Cup where Tonga shocked New Zealand to beat them in the group stages. The Kiwis then lost to Fiji in the quarter-final.
“International rugby league is one of the greatest opportunities the sport has,” Wood said. “It is underdeveloped and capable of a lot more. When we showcase it, people are full of admiration.
“There is plenty of scope for improvement.”
The matches in New Zealand will help aid their governing body who are in a precarious financial state. The match against Australia last Saturday attracted just 10,000 people while Saturday night’s game is a sellout.
“They have had a difficult two years,” Wood said. “They are emerging out of that. Their leadership is good and I have a lot of confidence under the leadership of (new chief executive) Greg Peters will go from strength to strength. Of all of the big nations New Zealand does not have a domestic competition so they need international rugby league more than anybody.”
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