By PHIL CAPLAN
AS this issue went to print, the full details of the proposed end of season Ashes tour by the Kangaroos, the first since 2003, were still yet to be formally announced.
It had been hoped that the Australian RL Commission and RFL/RL Commercial would confirm the details on the Sunday after the games and in Las Vegas, all of the big administrative players having been there for an International Rugby League board meeting in the lead up.
The delays appear to emanate from some logistics surrounding the chosen venues and their availability, and final agreement from the Australian Players’ Association relating to the workload on their members, together with concessions on off season training on their return.
Kangaroos head coach, Mal Meninga, a huge fan of longer tours having been on a record four of them, wants to include a couple of extra games over here, perhaps against Wigan and the England Knights, while also including a Test match with France on the schedule.
The game across the channel, possibly in Paris, would be a warm up for the three match series against England which would also account for our domestic season finishing later, but such a timetable has raised the concerns of the RLPA who have yet to sign their part of the deal off.
What has been confirmed, and broken in January’s issue, is that the entrepreneur behind switching from a Lions to a Kangaroos tour is Warrington owner and promoter Simon Moran.
In an interview with Sky Sports in Vegas, ARLC chair Peter V’landys confirmed: “England approached us to promote the game in England.
“We agreed straight away. Simon Moran, one of the great promoters of the game, one of the great promoters of music…..when he speaks, we listen. Hopefully it will attract some casual fans who will turn into engaged fans.”
Of the presence of Betfred Super League clubs in Vegas and the spill over that has produced V’landys confirmed, principally of Wigan and Warrington: “They really want to grow the game in England. They are very determined people to make the game as popular as they can and a mainstream sport.
“The benefit we have over other sports is that we’re international, and the more we promote that the better, that’s why we are bringing the Australian team to England.
“There’s a lot of people you have to consult and it’s quite a process,” V’landys added explaining the delay with inking in the details, “and we are in the final stages of that.
“It’s important for the game to be strong in England. If you’re going to have an international game, you need them to be strong, there’s always been that rivalry for as long as I can remember.
“As a kid, you’d die to go and watch an England (sic) v Australia Test match and I’ve never forgotten that. We need to get back to it, that’s why it’s important for them to have a very good domestic competition.
“If you can help another part of the family, we’re willing to do so.”
There were no plans for the Jillaroos, who were also due to host a series back home this autumn against the English, to come over and maybe play two games to complete their series because of additional cost, and their one-sided meeting Las Vegas although the result has reconfirmed that.
Inevitably, talk around the hotels in Sin City was about the Ashes impact and the likely venues, a source high up in the England camp indicating that Wembley, Everton’s new ground at Bramley Moore Dock which houses 53,000 fans and is due to open in the autumn, and AMT Headingley were the chosen grounds.
The Aussies are looking to Wembley to open the series, as it did in 1990 and 1994 with the tourists defeated on both occasions in memorable games in front of big crowds, with Everton set to be second as the series will still be alive regardless.
AMT Headingley is seen as a conservative choice but a guaranteed 20,000 sell out irrespective of if it is a dead rubber, with the Aussies again attached to the historic rugby and cricket ground and city that has hosted well them on a number of occasions.
It is believed that the higher capacity Elland Road was looked at, but it is uncertain what division Leeds United will be in and there are major plans for ground redevelopment if they are promoted to the Premiership come the autumn.
In addition, the negative feedback the RFL received from fans about Magic Weekend being held there last year fed into the discussions.
Both nations are keen to see tickets put on sale as soon as possible to cash in on the Vegas halo effect.
Image: Paul Currie/SWpix
