O'Neill support strong

[Jehna]

O'Neill support strong

By Iain Payten
January 31, 2008

PLAYERS and administrators have backed John O'Neill's call for urgent change to save Australian rugby from collapse, citing the need for "realities" to be addressed in the game.

While there was support for the frank message of the ARU boss on Tuesday in the wake of his state of the union address, there was some discontent with the timing with the Super 14 season starting in two weeks.

Several state officials expressed concern the gloomy picture painted by O'Neill may turn off wavering fans.

But rugby's stakeholders, including the players, were nevertheless behind O'Neill on the need for a shake-up in rugby.

Rugby Union Players Association boss Tony Dempsey said Aussie players even supported the idea of bringing in foreign players to their Super 14 squads.

O'Neill has proposed relaxing the rule saying only players eligible for the Australia side can play in the country, and Dempsey said RUPA first told the ARU it backed the idea last year.

"We discussed this at length as a RUPA board, and the board's view is the limited introduction of one to two foreign players is a good thing. It may bring new ideas, new training techniques and so on," Dempsey said.

"The RUPA board also thinks it could create more interest from spectactors."
The last foreigner to play in an Australian side was future Springbok captain Andre Vos at Queensland in 1998.

O'Neill's suggestions of an expanded Super 14 competition, and possible midweek Wallabies Tests, were also met with cautious support.

"It makes sense, because it is an existing product. It is easier to adapt an existing product," NSW coach Ewen McKenzie said. "But you have to work out what its impact will be on all other levels of rugby."

Dempsey said the 30-game limit of the current CBA could be reviewed.

"We believe the greater focus should be on the individual management of each player by the doctor, medical staff and coach collectively," Dempsey said. "Thirty games for a front-rower is probably different to 30 games for a winger."

But the need for a third- tier competition remains imperative to some.

[jargan83]

The last shake up of the game (and boy were those NSW clubs shaken up) got canned by John O'Neill (or one of razor gangs)