ARU renew tour threats

The Australian Rugby Union have renewed their threat to pull out of tours as of next season if the northern hemisphere sides refuse to send full-strength sides on their own tours.

The Australian Rugby Union have renewed their threat to pull out of tours as of next season if the northern hemisphere sides refuse to send full-strength sides on their own tours.

It is not the first time the ARU have made such a threat, with the latest warning coming on the eve of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash – a game that marks the start of both Australia's and New Zealand's European tours.

It is the International Rugby Board's responsibility to ensure counties select their best players for all matches.

The ARU feel that both Wales and France have sent weak teams over the past few years, resulting in a dip in match attendances and TV ratings.

ARU boss John O'Neill says that is unfair and is considering not hosting under-strength northern hemisphere nations.

“In my personal view, our point of leverage is we don't go north,” he told ABC News.

“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'.”

Both Australia and New Zealand will tour Europe with full-strength squads after their final Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday.

“Twickenham, Millennium Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and Murrayfield will all be full, and why? Because the Springboks, Wallabies and the All Blacks will all be there, full-strength,” O'Neill added.

“They're earning in their currency, pounds and euros, and they're going to do very well out of it. But we've had two years of under-strength teams. We've had Wales in 2007 and France in 2008 and we have to find a solution.”