ARL MOVES TO ENSURE INTERNATIONAL FUTURE
Greg Joosse
RL: ARL MOVES TO ENSURE INTERNATIONAL FUTURE
LEAGUE NIGHTLEAD
By Jeff Dunne of AAP
SYDNEY, Feb 4 AAP - The Australian Rugby League today moved to
ensure its international future by announcing plans for matches
against Fiji, New Zealand and a rest-of-the-world team this year.
ARL chairman Ken Arthurson revealed the League's international
program for 1996 with a one off match against Fiji to be played in
the New South Wales or Queensland country area, one or two tests
against New Zealand and a tour of Papua New Guinea at the end of
the year.
Arthurson also said Melbourne could host the clash between
Australia and the rest-of-the-world.
The international program has been drawn up to ensure that the
ARL is not isolated on the world map with Super League having
signed up Great Britain, New Zealand and all the Pacific island
nations.
Arthurson denied that the series would be one-sided regardless
of the disappointing form of the international teams in this
weekend's World Sevens tournament.
"We're inviting Fiji to play a test against us in a country
centre because we believe that their players have performed well
here (in the Sevens) and there are a lot of top class Fijian
players playing in the country here," he said.
The rest-of-the-world team would be made up of players from
Great Britain, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, who have
signed with the ARL.
"I think it would be very strong, look at the talent we could
pick from with Phil Clarke, Jarrod McCracken, John Hopoate and Jim
Dymock ... it would be a top class side there's no problem about
that," he said.
Arthurson also said the ARL would be prepared to play against
Super League aligned nations if News Limited lost the Federal Court
case which will decide the future of the game.
But the League supremo gave a word of advice to Super League
signed players who have stated publicly that they would rather sit
out the season than play under the ARL if News Limited lost the
court case.
"I was saddened to hear that some players said that, I think
they should take a long look at themselves," Arthurson said.
"I think they owe it to the fans to make every commitment to
play."
There has also been some speculation that Arthurson would be
retiring from his job as ARL chairman at a board meeting today but
the former Manly chief executive scotched the rumours.
"We're looking at restructuring the league but I have no
intention of standing down irrespective of the court case," he
said.
Juiceman
--
Greg Joosse - Super League Technology - gjo...@ozemail.com.au
+++ The opinions expressed in this message are my own personal +++
+++ views and do not reflect the official views of Super League +++
Dr J.S. Marsland
: The rest-of-the-world team would be made up of players from
: Great Britain, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, who have
: signed with the ARL.
: "I think it would be very strong, look at the talent we could
: pick from with Phil Clarke, Jarrod McCracken, John Hopoate and Jim
: Dymock
Hang about; Weren't Hopoate and Dymock Australians only six months ago?
All the best
--
John