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O`Neill plans to equalise and enliven

Thursday 28th February 2008

John O'Neill: Full of ideas

ARU Chief Executive John O'Neill has revealed a vision for rugby's international future, including a new Pacific Rim tournament and the advent of transfer fees.

O'Neill will speak at the IRB meeting next week - the meeting at which the Tri-Nations champions v Six Nations clash will be proposed - and advocate the creation of an eight-team tournament for top Pacific, Asian, and American Test teams.

Much of the meeting will centre around the current glut of meaningless international fixtures in the June/November Test windows, and ways of sprucing the system up.

The Pacific Rim tournament would, in O'Neill's mind, be set to coincide with the British and Irish Lions tour in 2009 initially, as none of the home nations can tour in that June.

"With the British Lions, none of the home nations can tour. I have said what about we look at an eight-team regional tournament, in Australia, called the Pac-Rim championship: with Australia, Argentina, Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, USA and Canada," O'Neill said to the Daily Telegraph.

"Two pools of four, with semi-finals and a final, all in three weeks.

"South Africa couldn't participate, they're hosting the Lions. And New Zealand may not want to participate with France inbound for two Tests and Italy for one which isn't a bad practice run.

"I have just put the suggestion forward, where just like soccer, you have these continental championships. There's Euro 2008 in soccer, and you have the same thing in Africa and Asia.

"We are not quite there yet as a sport, and it may be years before we get to their depth and breadth, but maybe this sort of Pac-Rim tournament could move us in that direction. While we are considering all other options, why wouldn't you look at that?"

It's a left-field plan, but it has several advantages, including the top-level practice afforded to Japan, Canada, the USA, and World Cup surprise packages Fiji.

"In the period that I'm talking about, in 2009 and the next one in 2013, the IRB could fund this instead of the Pacific Nations Cup (which features Australia 'A', NZ Maori, Japan, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga)," O'Neill continued.

"It's probably taken longer than it should have to get to the inevitable conclusion that with all the other good competitions in rugby that provide a winner, (the June and November tests) currently have a flavour of a friendly."

O'Neill is also set to lead the push for a re-introduction of transfer fees, citing IRB regulation four, which covers compensation for player training and development.

In his first stint as ARU CEO, O'Neill was caught up in the row involving Jason Jones-Hughes, who was pilfered by Graham Henry to go and play for Wales despite having represented Australia A. The ARU claimed A$150,000 compensation at the time, but the IRB ruled out the possibility of compensation on a technicality, subsequently amending that technicality.

The move - combined with the tournament outlined above - would potentially help stem the flow of players from the Pacific Islands to Australia and New Zealand, or help give the cash-strapped Islanders some much-needed financial aid.

It would also raise the price of Southern Hemisphere stars for the richer Northern Hemisphere clubs.

"It's a matter of justice," O'Neill said.

"When a country has genuinely developed and trained a player, it's only right that it should receive compensation if that player moves to another jurisdiction. I'm in favour of the concept.""