Lions chief demands Wallabies released for Super Rugby teams ahead of Test series

The British and Irish Lions have arrived in Australia and their chief executive Ben Calveley has already made it clear that he expects Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to make his squad available for their Super Rugby teams ahead of the Test series.

Speaking to media in Perth ahead of the Lions’ first game in Australia against the Force on Saturday evening, Calveley stated the Wallabies were obliged to release their Test stars as part of a contractual agreement.

“The agreement is very clear: it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series,” Calveley said.

“That is our expec­tation, it’s really important that these games are competitive. It’s not just for a performance standpoint – the players do want to test themselves and build towards the Test series – but it’s also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters who are all expecting competitive fixtures, and for the rugby-loving public. That would be their expectation as well.”

The Force side on Saturday is likely to feature Wallabies Nic White, Darcy Swain and uncapped squad member Nick Champion de Crespigny.

Schmidt has retained breakaway Carlo Tizzano and five-eighth Ben Donaldson in camp in Sydney ahead of the Test series.

Calveley made it clear that he would be in regular touch with his counterpart at Rugby Australia Phil Waugh regarding the strength of opposition for each game, although it is unclear how enforceable this agreement is and does it pertain to specific players given Waratahs stars Angus Bell, Max Jorgensen and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii are all highly unlikely to appear before the Test series.

“We’ll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with Phil Waugh and take it step by step,” Calveley said.

“It’s really important that these games are competitive. It’s not just from a performance standpoint, but it’s also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters who are all expecting competitive fixtures.”

Meanwhile, Wallabies fullback Tom Wright has had a perfect view of Suaalii’s rapid development in rugby, helping to direct him on his memorable winning international debut against England in November and then facing him in May while he was wearing the No.15 for NSW.

Speaking after the Wallabies’ first day of training in Sydney before facing Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday week, July 6, Wright was delighted to see a fit and firing Suaalii back in gold after recovering from injury.

“I think he goes pretty well any time he’s on the field,” Wright said. “It’s a credit to how versatile he is. We saw him play in the midfield [for the Wallabies]; we’ve seen him now play at fullback for the Tahs as well.

“The first thing I might have mentioned was how good it was to see competition for spots heat up today at training, and that’s the luxury that the coaching staff have. It’s a difficult luxury to have, but to be able to pick a 23 to go out against the Fijians, there’s going to be guys that miss out.

“But [with] his talent, he’s probably second to none in the group. You pair that with his work ethic that he’s got ... it’s really impressive, and he gets the most out of all of us as his teammates.”

Tom Wright against Wales in November.Credit: Getty Images

Wright played some of the best rugby of his career under Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt last season and believes that a lot of the New Zealander’s foundational work with the squad is being built upon before taking on Fiji and then the British and Irish Lions.

“This morning was less about trying to push a fresh load of information and plays and structures onto everyone’s plate after breakfast, but it was more about a refresher and getting everyone back into language and lingo, and then everyone just sort of hitting the ground running today,” Wright said.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sets up Tom Wright for a try on the Wallabies’ spring tour.Credit: Getty Images

“Last year was a lot of trying to digest and absorb stuff, but today it was just like resharpening the sword, and it was exciting to see that translate, as opposed to just picking it up fresh last year.”

Wright has a tight grip on the Australian fullback jersey, but understands competition for places has never been more fierce, especially given the squad will be trimmed again on July 11 for the Lions series.

The Brumbies fullback is keen to see how uncapped club mate Corey Toole fares in Wallabies camp and backs the winger to put himself in the selection frame.

“If he wasn’t in the top one or top two outside backs [in Australia], I’d have a pretty stern conversation with you around your disagreement with me,” Wright said.

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