NZRFU reject 'boring' northern hemisphere
February 6, 2001

New Zealand have rejected suggestions that northern hemisphere sides should join the Tri-Nations series.

David Rutherford, New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive, told the New Zealand Herald he would prefer any expansion to involve other southern hemisphere sides.

"We would rather involve teams from our area such as Argentina and the Pacific Island countries, rather than traditionally strong teams from Europe," he said.

"Including England and France would be boring and it would also detract from the World Cup, which we don't want to do."

Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill has proposed that England and France should join the competition in a plan aimed at improving television audiences.

Under O'Neill's proposals England and France would join Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in an annual tournament, played on a home-and-away basis.

England coach Clive Woodward, who watched his side open their Six Nations campaign with a convincing win against Wales on Saturday, has also opposed the idea.

He said: "In my opinion the Six Nations is better than the Tri-Nations.

"The southern hemisphere is jealous of what we have and I would hate to see the Six Nations disrupted. It is just John O'Neill shooting from the hip."

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