O'Neill wants England and France to join expanded Tri Nations
February 2, 2001

Australian Rugby Union managing director John O'Neill has put forward a
proposal to add England and France to the current Tri-Nations series in
operation in the southern hemisphere.

O'Neill is keen to see the competition expanded to increase interest among
television viewers and has targeted the top two teams in the northern
hemisphere.

Current Six Nations title holders England and World Cup finalists France would join Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in an annual tournament, played on a home-and-away basis.

O'Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald: ``The possibility always exists for the Tri-Nations to turn into a Five Nations tournament.France and England would obviously be the two major contenders.
It is great when you have the British Lions around, like this season, but
that only comes along once every 12 years."

``I think the SANZAR countries, in the light of changes all around the world,
have to test some models, go to the broadcasters, and say 'what do you think of this?'''

O'Neill's view is also shared by former South Africa coach Nick Mallett.He wrote on his website: ``A competition involving the SANZAR teams, England
and France would be quite something and might improve on the repetitiveness of
the Tri-Nations.I've no doubt that England and France are right up there with the southern hemisphere SANZAR teams.''

However, Mallett was less complimentary about the remaining Six Nations
sides.He added: ``Wales, Scotland, Ireland and little Italy are somewhere behind, with no more than a 20 per cent chance of winning against the top five.''

O'Neill would also like to see the Super 12 competition expanded to a global event comprising 20 teams.

O'Neill's proposal was for a Super 20 format to contain five teams each from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, plus club or provincial champions from Argentina, Canada, the United States and Japan and a combined Pacific team selected from nations including Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

O'Neill said the global competitions could provide more lucrative TV contracts and a wider audience appeal for rugby union. He said the Super 20 could potentially draw attention on a scale similar to England's Premier League soccer championship.

"We could go to a Super 13 next year - no problem. But let's be a bit adventurous and think more globally. A Super 20 would be a serious global tournament," O'Neill told the newspaper.

Members of Sanzar, the umbrella organisation for the South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Football Unions, will consider O'Neill's proposals during a telephone hook-up next week.

The biggest existing rugby union tournament is the quadrennial World Cup. The 1999 World Cup in Wales was expanded from 16 to 20 nations. The 2003 World Cup in Australia will also include 20 nations plus qualifying tournaments.

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