Australia to host next Tri-Nations

[Granty]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200511/s1513176.htm

Australia to host next Tri-Nations

The 2006 rugby league Tri-Nations series will be held in the southern hemisphere, the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) confirmed in London overnight.

Australia is expected to act as principal host and has also re-confirmed its commitment to staging the 2008 World Cup, the RLIF said.

The decision means Great Britain will play a series of Tests in Australia for the first time since 1992, visits since then having been restricted to one-off matches.

This year's Tri-Nations series started with Australia and New Zealand each hosting one Anzac clash before both sides decamped to the UK for more games involving Great Britain.

Australia will face New Zealand in the series final at Elland Road in Leeds on Sunday morning (Australian time).

-AFP

[Granty]

It's about time the ARL put their hand up and take the risk :thumbright:.

[nq_gurl]

that means we can actually watch the games at a reasonable time!!!

[Jordan]

It also means I will have to perform miracles to get out of work.

[Stido]

God help the poms.

[Granty]

that means we can actually watch the games at a reasonable time!!!

And, just maybe, up close :fingerscrossed:

http://www.nrl.com/news.cfm?ID=13282

Aus cities to host Tri-Nations Tests

22 November 2005

Townsville and Newcastle are in line to host Tri-Nations Tests next year after the Rugby League International Federation gave Australia and New Zealand co-hosting rights to the fledgling tournament involving Great Britain.

It's understood Townsville's Dairy Farmers Stadium and Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium have been earmarked as venues for games.

New Zealand will host three matches with three others played in Australia.

The final will be played at Aussie Stadium.

ARL CEO Geoff Carr told 2KY Radio today there was a lot of confidence on both sides of the Tasman that there would be no shortage of bids from main stadia for round-robin games in the Tri Nations series.

"New Zealand has got to play three games in it, so (they) are very confident that their stadia will be happy to bid for it," Carr said.

However agreeing on venues for the two round-robin matches between the host nations might cause some headaches, New Zealand Rugby League chairman Selwyn Pearson said.

"We'd push for one each of the Australia-New Zealand games but of course it gets down to the underwriting and those sorts of things," Pearson said.

"Obviously we make a heck of a lot more money in Australia than we do here so that would have to be looked at as well."

The Tri-Nations schedule is likely to be finalised in February.

Australian coach Wayne Bennett was thrilled with the Federation's decision after consistent rumblings that the Tri-Nations, which he was heavily involved in getting started, could be dumped.

"We (rugby league) need it so badly," said Bennett, after he was named International coach of the year at the Golden Boot awards dinner where Australian fullback Anthony Minichiello was recognised as the world's best player in 2005.

"I thought they may pull the plug on it. I'm elated," added Bennett.

Concerns for the future of the tournament surfaced when host Great Britain was dumped from the final, meaning it would not return the same STG750,000 pounds ($A1.75 million) profit as last year when the Lions played Australia in the final.

At a meeting in Leeds yesterday, the Federation appointed two working parties to examine a number of issues and report back with their findings on Friday.

Concerns over a loophole that allowed Newcastle star Andrew Johns and other NRL stars to register and play in two different competitions at the same time were also raised at the meeting.

But it was agreed to allow each nation to formulate its owns rules.

The Federation also stayed out of the criticism levelled at its international judiciary system in the wake of the Nigel Vagana tackle that left Great Britain half Paul Deacon with a double facial fracture requiring surgery.

But Carr said the meeting had resolved that the NRL would share with the English Super League the data that its judiciary uses to ensure consistency between rotating members, in the form of recorded footage of benchmark graded offences.

"We want to share what we do with them so we can make sure that between the countries we have a similar view," Carr said.

Brought to you by AAP


Hmmm ..... If both Newcastle and Thuringowa :tongue: get a Test, that leaves the one Test and the Final to be shared between Brisbane and Sydney, and as Sydney is hosting the Final, the other Test should be in Brisbane.

I wouldn't complain if that happens but will they only have 1 game (the Final) in Sydney? I've got a bad feeling it will be a Test Newcastle or NQ, not both. I really hope I'm wrong :pale:.

[Granty]

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17347672%255E14793,00.html

Townsville in Tri frame

By ADAM GARDINI
24nov05

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,5078784,00.jpg
Townsville's Dairy Farmers Stadium is among the contenders to host a match during next year's end-of-season Tri-Nations rugby league series between Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. The series will be held in the southern hemisphere for the first time, with three pool games in New Zealand and three in Australia. Townsville and Newcastle have been suggested as regional candidates to host a match.

TOWNSVILLE has emerged as a candidate to host a Test match during next year's Tri-Nations series to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

It is understood regional centres Townsville and Newcastle have both been earmarked as potential host cities for games along with several other locations including Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium), Sydney (Telstra Stadium) and Melbourne.

Australia and New Zealand will both host three matches during the six-game round-robin tournament with the final to be played at Aussie Stadium.

However, North Queensland rugby league fans may have to wait patiently for a decision, with prospective bids from stadiums yet to be received following the Rugby League International Federation's announcement regarding the 2006 tournament on Tuesday.

Next year's Tri-Series will be the first of its kind to be played in the southern hemisphere.

"At this stage of the game it's been announced and we're open to offers from (stadiums) but certainly there is a thought games should be played in major venues," Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr said yesterday from Leeds.

"We're over here now discussing the finer details of the tournament."

The owners of Dairy Farmers Stadium and Suncorp, the Major Sports Facility Authority, yesterday declared their intentions to work with the Australian Rugby League and said they would be 'more than happy' to bid for a match to be played in Townsville.

The stadium's capacity will be increased to over 25,000 next season following the addition of 4000 seats to the Eastern Grandstand.

"We're very keen to work with the ARL and if we've been mentioned we're more than happy to bid for an event such as this," an MSFA spokesperson said yesterday.

"Attracting another quality event (to Dairy Farmers Stadium) would be great for the region."

Dairy Farmers Stadium was the venue for a Junior Kangaroos match against Papua New Guinea in 2004 and also hosted three pool matches during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

As a result of the overwhelming success of Townsville's hosting of the World Cup, the venue was also chosen to host the first-ever Super 14 rugby match to be played outside of a capital city in May next year when the Queensland Reds will clash with the Highlanders.

[nq_gurl]

wonder if, like with previous special games, season ticket holders will be given first preference should THURINGOWA be granted a game .....

[Granty]

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/sectionindex2/0,5935,nqncomment^comment^TEXT^townsvillebulletin, 00.html

Tri-Nations game must come here

IT is Townsville's turn.

The Australian Rugby League must bring one of next year's Tri-Nations series matches to Dairy Farmers Stadium.

While the region is regularly talked about as a possible candidate for a major rugby league match we always seems to miss out.

Through their support of the Cowboys, North Queensland rugby league fans have shown they are the equal of any sports fans in the country. And they deserve the opportunity to see a fully fledged Test match in their own back yard.

With three Tri-Series games scheduled for Australia and three for New Zealand, the logical decision would be to play one game in Brisbane, one in Newcastle, one in Townsville and the final in Sydney.

Already it has been suggested by ARL chief executive Geoff Carr that Melbourne will host one match.

Melbourne already is hosting a State of Origin match next year and it is simply ridiculous to give them a Test match as well at the expense of Townsville or Newcastle, or both.

Dairy Farmers Stadium's capacity will be about 25,000 after an off-season upgrade and there is no doubt it would be filled for a Test match. The region's support of a wide range of international and national sporting events over the past few years is added proof -- if any were needed -- that this region wholeheartedly gets behind its sport. North Queensland rugby league supporters would have every right to feel upset with the game's administrators if they were overlooked this time.

[pommie cowboy]

Great news the Tri nations finals are down Oz next year,its allways an English RL supporters dream to follow our National team in Oz,remember the test match in Melbourne in the 90's when the home support was outnumberd.