Southern nations eye London ties

RUGBY’S southern hemisphere superpowers want to play more matches in London. Argentina will face Australia at Twickenham on October 8 in the first Rugby Championship game held in England — a repeat of last year’s World Cup semi-final. And now the chief executive of SANZAR, Andy Marinos, who run the southern hemisphere’s premier competition which also includes New Zealand and South Africa, wants away fixtures to become a regular feature. Marinos said: ‘It’s a good opportunity for extra exposure and bringing a meaningful Rugby Championship game to London is something that will continue to promote rugby at a moment when its popularity is continuing to grow.’ He also believes a northern hemisphere audience would appreciate viewing a more expansive style of Test rugby than they are used to in the Six Nations. ‘The style of play in The Rugby Championship is a very exportable commodity to further increase the attractiveness of the sport,’ he added. Dean Ryan, meanwhile, has been appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s head of international player development.