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NZRU furious with France

Friday 01st August 2008

Not happy: Hobbs is weighing up his options

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has said it is considering boycotting France's tour Down Under next year following revelations an under-strength team is set to be sent for the two-Test tour.

The proposed move comes after it was revealed that France's Top 14 Final will take place during France's scheduled 2009 tour, meaning most of the countries top players will be on club duty.

However earlier in the year, at the International Rugby Board's (IRB) global summit in Woking, France made a commitment to New Zealand that they would tour with a first-choice squad, which doesn't seem to be the case now.

If pressure can not be successfully exerted to change the date of the final, which seems unlikely, then it would rob the French national side of players involved in its play-offs.

It is not an unusual situation for France, who toured Australia this season and New Zealand last season, with a below-par squad.

France will not be the only side affected, Italy will also have to tour without several first-choice players too.

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs said it was unacceptable and the sporting body would do all it could to force a change.

"We are concerned, we are very concerned by the advice that we have received with regard to the date of the final of the LNR," Hobbs told NZPA.

"That is a matter we will be taking further.

"We are unhappy with it and we will be speaking both with the IRB and the French with respect to it. As will the Australians."

Hobbs was even asked if the NZRU would consider telling France not to even bother touring.

"It is a possibility," he said.

NZRU Chief Executive Steve Tew said he was also hugely concerned by the latest move, especially given that earlier this week Bernard Laporte assured Tew that France would be at top-strength. Soon after he was alerted of the scheduling clash between the New Zealand tour and the French Top 14 Final.

"We have two pieces of information," Tew said.

"Bernard was in New Zealand and he assured us the French would be bringing a full-strength side to New Zealand next year, and they go to Australia for a Test.

"As recently as Monday, it was confirmed on a Chief Executive's conference call that I was on that the final will now be held on the sixth of June.

"That is completely at odds with what was committed to at Woking. SANZAR has discussed it and SANZAR will be taking it up with the IRB and we will be taking it up as individual countries as well.

"We will keep all of our options open at the moment.

"It is frustrating, very frustrating. We reserve our rights and our options"

Meanwhile the NZRU have yet to decide the schedule for the All Blacks' 2009 end of year tour. The side will first play in Hong Kong before embarking on a UK tour.

"We are still working on the end of year touring program for 2009," Tew said.

"We will make some announcements when we finalise some stuff."