England close to scrapping summer tour
February 14, 2002

England's proposed summer tour of the South Sea Islands could be scrapped.

The reigning Six Nations champions are due to play Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in June and July, but the trip clashes with World Cup qualifying matches involving all three island teams.

Also England's domestic season does not finish until the Zurich Premiership play-off final at Twickenham on June 8, giving Clive Woodward and his players little preparation time.

"We have been in discussion with the unions of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga for a number of months in a bid to confirm logistics and dates for the tour," said Rugby Football Union performance director Chris Spice.

"These discussions are continuing. Our aim is the same as it has always been - we want to tour and intend to do so."

Woodward has intimated the tour would largely be for developmental purposes, with several senior players unlikely to travel and enjoying a summer off instead ahead of next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Speculation had been rife that Woodward would be relieved if the tour, about which he had never been overly enthusiastic, was scrapped.

The facilities, or lack of them, also concerned Woodward. England were expected to be based in Suva, the Fijian capital, flying in and out for the matches in Tonga and Samoa. The fact that the domestic season does not end until June 8 would have given England little time to travel and acclimatise before the first international scheduled for June 22

No final decision has been taken yet, but it could well be that England stay at home for the first summer since 1996.

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