Australia and New Zealand rugby chiefs are considering scrapping future European tours in protest against the second-string Test teams that visit their countries.
According to Eurosport, Australia's John O'Neill and New Zealand's Steve Tew are to raise the prospect at a meeting of top rugby nations on November 11. Both countries are understood to be angry at northern hemisphere nations sending below-par touring teams, hitting ticket sales and depriving them of much-needed revenue.
"In my personal view, our point of leverage is we don't go north," O'Neill told reporters. "What I'm saying is the integrity of international Test rugby relies on everyone playing by the rules. If there comes a time when the northern hemisphere don't comply with the regulations and send their best team south, and we suffer the consequences of a downturn in gate and a downturn in popularity of the game, we might say, 'don't come in June and we will come if you pay us.'
Tew added that axing the tours was possible in the "medium term" with New Zealand incensed at the poor French team that visited in 2007, despite having agreed to bring their best players. "The disappointment we felt when we thought we got an agreement and we immediately found out the French were not able to honour it, was considerable," he said.
Statistically, Australia and New Zealand have a much better touring record than European teams, suggesting they bring their best personnel. Both Australia and New Zealand are embarking on European tours at nearly full strength this weekend’s match.
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