Hooper, Toomua to hold talks with top Kiwi players next week
Wallabies Michael Hooper and Matt Toomua will link up with senior New Zealand players next week to discuss scenarios for trans-Tasman games.
As momentum gathers on both sides of the ditch to combine the Australian and New Zealand competitions when lockdown restrictions are eased, Hooper and Toomua will be joined by Waratahs hooker and Rugby Union Players Association president Damien Fitzpatrick on a call brokered by the players unions in both countries.
Michael Hooper will talk with his top New Zealand rugby counterparts next week.Credit:AAP
The possibility of combining each nations' domestic Super Rugby competitions in a finals series will be canvassed, as well as potential Wallabies vs All Blacks Tests towards the end of the year.
RUPA boss Justin Harrison told the Herald he had been in regular contact with his NZ counterpart Rob Nichol and both organisations believed getting the players to talk was a good idea.
"I've been talking with Rob about the potential for a competition between the two countries and their view is very encouraging about wanting to reach out and have senior player interaction," Harrison said.
"We are scheduling a call for next week so Hoops, Toomua, Fitzy and other players from our side can talk with senior New Zealand players to start to develop a framework around player desires for involvement.
"We'd all like to present something that has support from the playing groups and feel this is a good way to start that."
I think the appetite most certainly is there to engage with Australia and those discussions have already started to happen.
RUPA boss Justin Harrison
Rugby Australia is working on a July start date for the resumption of a domestic competition, which would include the Western Force.
New Zealand Rugby, meanwhile, is working on a similar concept involving its five Super Rugby teams, but acknowledges linking with the Australian conference is the most feasible next step.
As international borders look set to stay closed for months, the Australia-New Zealand route could become a testing ground, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagging the option last week.
"If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand," Mr Morrison said, saying he had discussed the matter recently with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The news was a boost to rugby administrators in both countries, along with the easing in New Zealand rugby's attitudes towards linking up with Australia.
Australian fans and pundits have long called for a move to a trans-Tasman form of Super Rugby to cut out games in South African and Argentinian time zones.
Those calls often prompted scoffs of disdain across the ditch, with New Zealand players and fans reluctant to give up their long association with South Africa, especially when Australia was the weakest of the three major SANZAAR conferences.
But the coronavirus pandemic, which has plunged both national unions into financial crisis, appears to have prompted a rethink.
"I would be surprised if people didn't see the value in [an Australian-New Zealand connection] in some capacity," Harrison said.
"Whether it's a small part of a bigger picture on Super Rugby or the final part, every option at the moment is on the table and this is the most obvious one at the moment, given current travel restrictions and the likely pathway to them being eased.
"I think the appetite most certainly is there to engage with Australia and those discussions have already started to happen and will continue to happen into the future."