England replace Fiji with Australia clash

Eurosport - Wed, 17 Jun 13:42:00 2009

Australia will get the opportunity to repeat their 1984 Grand Slam of the Home Nations after a match against England was added to their November tour.

RUGBY England's Phil Vickery is tackled by Australia's Stephen Moore 2008 - 0

The Rugby Football Union confirmed that England would host the Wallabies at Twickenham on November 7 instead of playing Fiji on November 28.

Part of the profits from the match will go to the Fiji Rugby Union which posted a hefty loss in the last financial year and who recently lost its main sponsor.

Fiji will play the United States in a ranking test on the Pacific Coast of the US on November 28 and will face Australia in June, 2010.

"We're pleased to confirm that a Grand Slam tour, after all these years, is back on our calendar again," Australian Rugby Union managing director and chief executive John O'Neill said.

"The long trips to the UK and Ireland to play all four Home Unions are an integral part of the rich history and tradition of the Wallabies.

"I'm delighted the footsteps of the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies will, for the first time in 25 years, be retraced by our current national side."

Australia play Ireland on November15, Scotland on November 21 and Wales on November 28.

"Moving around our Autumn schedule is not ideal but to be able to offer Fiji substantive support we needed to find a multi-union approach," RFU chief executive Francis Baron said.

"Playing a Test against Australia in replacement for the Fiji Test will allow us to generate additional revenue to provide meaningful financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union as part of the global package."

England complete their autumn tests against Argentina and New Zealand.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. Good call cartman. 2 World Cups Michael! Count 'em,­ 2! One was in your own back yard! The other was when­ you were all let out on day release to try and get your­ own back on the guards... Englad wins when it matters­ and the rest of the time we have a damn good laugh.
    How­ much of the revenue generated will be going to Fiji­ exactly? Not a lot i reckon...

    From mark h, on Thu 18 Jun 10:52AM
  2. Nothing anti English mate, UR who we almost like to­ beat most. Mainly because U beat yourselves so much,­ LOL. Just a bit of bait mate LOL Leave it alone­ it'll grow.
    As I said, it is the AB's that are­ the main course, the SAF's the appetiser, you lot­ are just sweeties really ;)

    From Wanton, on Thu 18 Jun 9:48AM
  3. Girl666 - "RFU are run by people­ who know the­ price of everything but not the value of­­ anything."

    Spot on.

    From neil, on Thu 18 Jun 9:27AM
  4. I thought the Figians already toured here , no silly me­ thats the All Blacks..........

    From bozz, on Thu 18 Jun 8:54AM
  5. michael - i sense a little bit of anti England in your­ post, are you still upset we knocked you out of the­ last 2 world cups?

    From cartman, on Thu 18 Jun 8:35AM
  6. Cartman .....

    Yes, it is the Australian Tour and it­ is down to them who they want to play. But it is up­ to England to accept who they want to play and RFU­ typically look at the bottom line, that is making­ money, rather than what is good for rugby and trying to­ help out a poorer rugby nation. Where is the­ brotherhood in rugby, eh?
    RFU can make excuse saying­ Fiji will get a chunk out of the Australian match but­ what price the opportunity for the likes of Fiji to­ play and show the world what they are capable of­ against one of the big unions? RFU are run by people­ who know the price of everything but not the value of­ anything.

    From Girl666, on Thu 18 Jun 8:15AM
  7. It's same ole same ole ..... the big unions in­ collusion with the IRB (whose board are stuffed with­ people from the big unions) are always looking out for­ themselves. There are enough in the IRB coffers to­ spread the wealth more equitably and help out the­ smaller unions. They probably feel Fiji should be so­ thankful they are chucking a few crumbs towards them.

    From Girl666, on Thu 18 Jun 8:03AM
  8. Why can't the top unions all chip in a small amount­ each so that Fiji could tour the U.K. ?What an­ experience it would be for the Fijians and for us­ brits. Seems to me the top teams are again conspiring­ against the "2nd tier teams" as they­ don't want to upset the status quo. Am I right in­ saying that New Zealand won't play a test in the­ South Sea Islands as they are afraid of losing the­ source of their best players? Everyone that plays­ rughby for their country be it Fiji, England, Australia­ is entitled to play abroad. Shame on all the main­ unions - they are a disgrace to the game.

    From neil, on Thu 18 Jun 7:03AM
  9. Chris 120 "It's down to them" is a Pommy­ sounding mutter to me mate. Who really gives a damn­ about Fiji!? Well Australians do for a start despite­ some of their domestic turmoil. It will be less­ bruising playing those Tarts than the Fijians, perhaps­ that's a relief for the Rosey Cheeks. It is however­ gr8 to have a shot at a slam with a highly­ inexperienced a young Wallaby lineup. Gives them a­ chance to measure where thay are really at!
    The­ AB's are really the main course, the Irish a very­ dangerous and the Taff's are unpredictable.­ England....enough said really, playing them at home­ gives them an even break. I say life's short, eat­ sweets first, bring it on you Pommy Sweeties, PMSL

    From Michael, on Thu 18 Jun 4:05AM
  10. its not about fiji being good enough but eng v aus will­ generate much more revenue so fiji gain money and at he­ end of the day we all need it to stay in the loop so­ let fiji play now and see them struggle in the future­ so arrogance is not the isue here

    From phil, on Wed 17 Jun 10:29PM
  11. so i guess chris 120 is an aussie then! are u living­ in the uk. if so why dont you go back to australia cos­ you aussies are always banging on about how good it is­ in oz and how great you are.

    From T A, on Wed 17 Jun 6:02PM
  12. HANG ON !
    this is the Australia tour ! Its down to them­ who they want to play NOT England
    They asked us so shut­ up about ' arrogant England not wanting Fiji to­ play!'

    From cartman, on Wed 17 Jun 4:32PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Actually i think its a poor show. Fiji would be better­ playing England. Instead the arrogance of England and­ Australia wins through and tells Fiji you are not good­ enough to play with us.
    Shame on England.

    From CHRIS, on Wed 17 Jun 3:03PM
  14. well done rugby union shame political leaders cant show­ the same approach to helping one another rugby would be­ less of a spectacal without fiji in the mix

    From phil, on Wed 17 Jun 1:49PM
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