The Australian Rugby Union is attempting to lure the British and Irish Lions back Down Under for a money-spinning kick-off to their 2017 tour of New Zealand.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver has revealed bold plans for a one-off Lions blockbuster which would go some of the way to recouping lost revenue from next year’s World Cup season.
The Lions provided a massive cash injection to the code last year when they played nine games around the country to packed houses, including a drought-breaking 2-1 Test series victory over the Wallabies.
The tourists – combining the best players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – started their 2013 campaign against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, the home of major sponsor HSBC, and Pulver is keen for a similar opener in Australia.
“That’s one of the conversations we’ve been having with them (Lions officials),” he told AAP.
“If they want preliminary games outside New Zealand then we would be a wonderful location for them.
“We would take it in a heartbeat.”
The Lions’ last tour to New Zealand in 2005 was a forgettable affair, whitewashed 3-0 in a one-sided series and also controversially losing captain Brian O’Driscoll in the opening exchanges, and the four unions are looking closely at ensuring their best preparations.
Pulver admitted a Wallabies-Lions clash was unlikely while Super Rugby was being held but other options were being considered.
The cash-strapped ARU need to be inventive as they face extra financial strain next year with just two home Test matches – down from seven – scheduled due to the international season revolving around the World Cup, to be held in England in September and October.
They will host the All Blacks in Sydney and South Africa or Argentina, in a Rugby Championship encounter, in Brisbane.
The one silver lining for the 2015 domestic calendar is that, with the loss of the June Test window, Super Rugby will run unbroken from mid-February through to a July 4 final, instead of a momentum-halting three-week break.
The competition will also make a feature out of next year’s Anzac centenary by scheduling five matches between Australasian rivals around April 25.
In releasing the draw on Thursday, governing body SANZAR revealed three trans-Tasman clashes, plus Australian and New Zealand derby matches, as part of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
Defending champions NSW will take on the Melbourne Rebels at ANZ Stadium on Anzac Day in a showpiece battle for the Weary Dunlop Shield.
The Western Force meet the Chiefs in Hamilton and the Brumbies play the Highlanders in Canberra the day before, while Queensland host the Hurricanes on April 26.
Derm
Roar Guru
I'd argue that " the principle that the Lions tours belong to NZ, Australia and SA every 4 years exclusively," is wrong. And the principle of rotation amongst the three countries is only a recent innovation. Since 1888, for the most part, Lions tours were Australasian in nature, with tests against New Zealand and Australia on the same tour. Australia had its first sole tour in 1899, but didn't have another one until 100 years later in 1989, losing 2-1. Only from that point did the three-way rotation began. Argentina featured in 1910, '27 and '36 with sole Lions tours. After the Lions defeated Australia on an Australasian tour in 1966, there were 6 subsequent Lions tours to just New Zealand and South Africa before the Lions appeared again in Sydney in 1989. The Lions have played other countries as part of their tours including Ceylon, Rhodesia, Canada, Fiji, - in the main, these have been on the South African tours over the years. The most recent was against Argentina in the warm to the 2005 NZ tour. However, this match was played in Cardiff. In 1977, The Lions played a test against Fiji in Suva, after their tour against NZ which they lost 3-1. They lost to Fiji too. :)
Derm
Roar Guru
I'd argue that " the principle that the Lions tours belong to NZ, Australia and SA every 4 years exclusively," is wrong. And the principle of rotation amongst the three countries is only a recent innovation. Since 1888, for the most part, Lions tours were Australasian in nature, with tests against New Zealand and Australia on the same tour. Australia had its first sole tour in 1899, but didn't have another one until 100 years later in 1989, losing 2-1. Only from that point did the three-way rotation began. Argentina featured in 1910, '27 and '36 with sole Lions tours. After the Lions defeated Australia on an Australasian tour in 1966, there were 6 subsequent Lions tours to just New Zealand and South Africa before the Lions appeared again in Sydney in 1989. The Lions have played other countries as part of their tours including Ceylon, Rhodesia, Canada, Fiji, - in the main, these have been on the South African tours over the years. The most recent was against Argentina in the warm to the 2005 NZ tour. However, this match was played in Cardiff. In 1977, The Lions played a test against Fiji in Suva, after their tour against NZ which they lost 3-1. They lost to Fiji too. :)
Cantab
Guest
1,000,000 was the fee the lions recieved for playing the game in HK, so the ARU would probably have to come up with a better offer than that.
Cantab
Guest
'All revenue the ARU'. Lol, why?
Rob G
Guest
Britain is a geographical definition i.e. the "mainland" of scotland, england, wales . Different from UK which includes northern ireland. Still British and irish (obviously point now obsolete anyway)
bluetooth
Guest
Great idea but the aru need to come up with a long-term plan for Australia rugby
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
Desperate situations call for desperate steps to be taken. Hate for the NRC to be affected by lack of cash
Garth
Guest
And you wonder why we're not that keen on the idea....
Garth
Guest
NOS, this idea of Pulver's feels like something JON would have come up with. I wonder if they've been chatting lately.
Garth
Guest
Yet.....
Garth
Guest
Then they should actually try said charity fundraiser, with cake stalls outside the Test & Super Rugby venues. It is not for the Lions to bail the ARU you out either. Australia has had it's turn, it can wait until next time. That said, I would not be adverse to seeing the Lions continue on to Samoa, Tonga or Fiji (again) after playing the AB's, or after Aussie's next tour. As for the 2005 Tour being forgettable.... I think a few of the players have tried to forget it. They came full of belief that they had the 'cattle' for their second ever series win and got Black-washed.
Rebel
Guest
Play the PI team at ANZ, give them a percentage of the gate and any other revenue the match generates. Everyone wins. Depends how greedy people get.
Hog
Guest
I agree in principal with what you say, whatever the reasons it ultimately has been the ARU's total lack of forward planning. From day one they have taken short term monetary decisions without any regard to the future cost. What concerns me most as you point out is that we continue to make the same short term decisions. Yet how do they expect the results to be any different.
Moreton Bait
Roar Pro
Indeed Bakkies, Lions have "stopped over" in Australia previously before an NZ tour. Kiwis and Waratah fans may not look back fondly on the results of that tour, but BIL and Queensland fans do! http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/results.php?includeref=9755&season=1970-1971
Thunderguts
Guest
Perhaps if you took the time to gather facts rather than unsupported statements you would see that since 1996 with the start of Super 12 the ARU have enjoyed considerable revenue but have frittered it away on projects which have delivered no return. The NRC is yet another example of the ARU coming up with an idea which has no long term plan other than "we are doing something". Perhaps you could pose the question to the ARU " what are your 5 year financial forecasts by segment and what plans are in place to make this happen?". I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for a response.
Bakkies
Guest
I suggest people go on to the Lions site and you would see that this has been done before. Not in a long time but the Lions tour doesn't have to be restricted to one country.
conor
Guest
I understand that the first match of the Lions tour in 2017 will be against a combined Pacific Islands team at Eden Park.
kunming tiger
Guest
Agreed little chance of this happening better chance of taking the Lions brand back to Asia hopefully next time include some Asians in the opposition.
hog
Guest
Its not the NRC that is a drag on ARU finances, it is Super rugby that after 20 years is a massive noose around its neck.
Justin3
Guest
People do get worked up over very little on here