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IRB agrees new ten year tour plan.

  • 18-05-2010 4:29pm
    #1
    toomevara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,772 ✭✭✭


    Now this is interesting. The IRB have decided that the one off international tests are to be replaced by a more traditional touring structure involving teams playing mid-week games against provincial club opposition etc..Good, timely move imo....

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8688943.stm


Comments

  • #2
    durkadurka
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,207 ✭✭✭durkadurka


    more games....its a worry for a small country like Ireland


  • #3
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    If the midweek games give the fringe players a chance to take the field instead of holding tackle bags for 2-3 weeks, I'm all for it.


  • #4
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,443 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Probably signals the complete end of any kind of involvement in a Churchill Cup type competition though...


  • #5
    [Jackass]
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,193 ✭✭✭[Jackass]


    I think this is excellent news, both for the provinces who will get more games against international sides (whether or not they play full strength team or give fringe and academy players a game - either is great) and for the national side, who can cap more players and give more players an oppertunity at international level. Players like Horgan, Cronin, Cullen, Boss, Cave, Pollock, McFadden, Carr, Keatley etc. etc. could all get oppertunities on tour playing for an Irish mid-week team, which can only be a good thing imo for the development of the players and getting them in international camp.


  • #6
    JustinDee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,684 ✭✭✭JustinDee


    Plus side: Great for the game as in something 'new' (well, a return to the proper tour).

    Downside: Double the cost for the host union as they will be paying for much larger touring squads costs etc.


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  • #7
    Cool_CM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,990 ✭✭✭Cool_CM


    durkadurka wrote: »
    more games....its a worry for a small country like Ireland

    I don't really think so, if you look at the bbc article it mentions the English tour:
    BBC wrote:
    England's trip to Australasia in June is a move towards a more traditional tour, with a 44-man party set to play five games, including two Tests against Australia, two mid-week games against the Australian Barbarians and a match against the New Zealand Maori

    I would much prefer to see Ireland heading south to play matches against mixed opposition with a larger squad than the way it is now with a 33 man squad and with tests against NZ and Australia.

    I think that it is safe to say not many people are happy with the squad selection announced today for various reasons. Without mentioning names, there are certain players who look dead on their feet after a long season who need to be rested and shouldn't be heading on tour that are, and younger less experienced players who have impressed over the last season who clearly should be going to gain experience playing at an international level. Especially so close to the next world cup.

    In a weird way, I think that many people think short term and place too much emphasis on Ireland winning every match that they play. I would much rather see us use the summer and autumn friendlies as actual friendlies, where we place an emphasis on trying out things that we generally wouldn't in "meaningful" 6 nations matches and blooding new talent. If it doesn't pay off, then what harm?


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