All Black Coles fuming over World Rugby scheme

WELLINGTON: All Blacks hooker Dane Coles slammed World Rugby Thursday for failing to consult players or Pacific island teams about plans to revamp the international Test match schedule.

Coles said he was “pissed off” at the governing body for not listening to Pacific island nations and players as it drafted plans for a ‘Nations Championship’ competition.

“The thing that got me was excluding the Pacific nation teams because especially in the (Wellington) Hurricanes we’ve had a lot of guys play for Manu Samoa and Tonga,” said the 60-Test All Black ahead of the Super Rugby team’s clash with Otago Highlanders on Friday.

“Those countries do a lot for world rugby, so them not being included in any plans was what pissed me off.”

Reports last week said World Rugby was looking at a 12-nation competition which would not include Pacific island nations such as Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

World Rugby moved to clarify the plans this week, insisting there had always been a promotion-relegation element to the proposals which would give Pacific nations a pathway to the top tier. But Coles remained unimpressed. “Those Pacific nations deserve something, they deserve games and stuff like that,” he said.

“It’s a long way to go and a lot more planning. The players are trying to put their voice out there and get something going because you can’t just have these guys at World Rugby making these decisions and not having the players’ input.” - AFP