Thursday’s rugby news has the ARU confident of keeping Folau, no Aussie refs at the World Cup, a struggle to organise the ANZAC test and England picking from overseas.
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Folau set for long-term
The ARU are confident that they will be able to hold onto star Wallaby Israel Folau over the next three years despite the intense interest from NRL clubs. Folau will be a prime candidate for the new flexible contract models announced by the ARU which would allow for continued Test eligibility, diffusing much of the threat from overseas rugby markets.
A possible three year deal could see Folau play in Japan in between Test and Super Rugby seasons, for example. Negotiations between the ARU and Folau’s management have been ongoing, with Wallaby coach Michael Cheika saying, “I’m really confident that he’s enjoying his rugby and he’s going to want to stay here.”
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RWC snubs Aus refs
World Rugby have released the list of match officials for this year’s World Cup, with no Australian referees featured. All of the current Super Rugby whistleblowers included are from New Zealand and South Africa. The only Australian referee at the 2011 World Cup, former Kiwi Steve Walsh, would likely have been included but retired last month to pursue business interests.
The chairman of the official selection panel, John Jeffrey, said the men chosen to preside over the World Cup matches were rewarded for their consistency and performance at the highest level. “Between the 12 of them, they have refereed no fewer than 361 internationals,” he emphasised.
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ANZAC Test facing difficulties
Despite the enthusiasm of ARU administrators, it appears the NZRU will be unable to commit to moving the third Bledisloe Test to Anzac Day. The NZRU rejected the concept of moving the match from October to April outright last year, with the difficulties of scheduling the Test match in the middle of the Super Rugby season being said to be too much of a hurdle this season.
Both nations are hosting Anzac-themed derby clashes on April 25, but NSW cheif executive Greg Harris highlighted the opportunity that a Wallabies-All Blacks fixture would present. “To acknowledge the relationship between the two countries on Anzac Day would be a fantastic event…at the end of the day [a Test match] is a no-brainer,” Harris said.
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English including foreign based players
English coach Stuart Lancaster is set to abandon the traditional exclusion of overseas-based players, bowing to the pressure created by the form of Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon. The play of the two French-based players will likely see England invoke the “exceptional circumstances” clause to enable them to be added to the World Cup squad next month.
The RFU’s policy since the 2011 World Cup states that England should pick only home‑based players to prevent the risk of an overseas exodus. The additional pressure brought from hosting the tournament may compel a bending of these rules, with a failure of England to escape the pool of death being a disaster for the national team.
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