Wales look for World Cup base
September 11, 2002

Wales coach Steve Hansen has embarked on a fact finding mission to Australia with the intention of finding a base for Wales' World Cup campaign.

Hansen is investigating potential set-ups with Welsh Rugby Union chairman Glanmour Griffiths and team manager Alan Phillips examining hotels, training and match venues.

The trio are also considering in which country Wales should largely be based next summer for Tests against New Zealand and the Wallabies.

The trip has come at the invitation of RWC 2003 host city Canberra, where Wales face Tonga and Canada during the tournament.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips told the Western Mail, "We are doing our best to ensure that the national squad will have the best possible facilities at our disposal.

"And as we are playing twice in Canberra, we will do what we can to encourage Welsh fans to be there because we know how important that sort of support can be during a tournament of that nature so far from home.

"We will also be looking at other venues in Melbourne and, for the tour that takes place before the World Cup, in Sydney and New Zealand."

"We feel that the best approach we can take to playing Test matches on tour is to have a main base and head for one of the venues a day or two beforehand.

"We feel that approach worked well for us in South Africa and we will be looking at staying either near Sydney or in New Zealand for most of the time we are there."

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