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InternationalMunsterJeff WilsonJustin Marshall

Ex-All Blacks trio's call for return of 'vibrant' old-school international tours

By Online Editors
(Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)

Rugby tours akin to those of the amateur days of the game could well be the future of the code, according to three former All Blacks.

Speaking to former teammate Jeff Wilson on Sky Sport's The Breakdown, All Blacks greats Justin Marshall and Sir John Kirwan supported the notion of reinstating lengthy international tours that would see test teams face off against provincial and clubs sides in mid-week clashes.

The future of rugby around the globe is being assessed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, which has put significant financial pressure on organisations worldwide after the sport came to a standstill midway through last month.

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The economic implications of coronavirus has called into question the feasibility of competitions such as Super Rugby, which is one of many leagues where clubs have had to enforce redundancies and salary slashes to stay afloat.

Super Rugby had already been facing problems in terms of maintaining fan engagement prior to the suspension of the competition, but the pandemic has allowed relevant governing bodies an opportunity to evaluate their shortfalls and assess where improvements can be made once the virus is contained.

New Zealand Rugby announced earlier this week an investigation into the future of Super Rugby, where factors including hefty international travel and a monotonous schedule have contributed to its gradual downfall as the world's premier club competition.

Wilson suggested a potential solution to help regain fan interest in the sport in the form of old-school tours, whereby the likes of the All Blacks would play in a three-match test series as well as mid-week fixtures against local outfits.

"I look at this as a massive opportunity for not just players but for everyone, fans in particular" Wilson said on Tuesday.

"Surely there would be a hunger to see South Africa come back to New Zealand and play a three-test series?

"I look at '93, my first tour for the All Blacks. It's an incredibly special time.

"I think it was nine or 10 games we played together and I played all but one."

Both Kirwan and Marshall agreed with Wilson's sentiments, with both players having experienced tours with the All Blacks during their playing careers.

“I’m always talking about tribalism and tradition. Why is the Lions so successful? Because we look forward to it," Kirwan told The Breakdown.

“I think the future can be about touring because we’re going too many places too often.

“So, if we toured the UK but we only toured England and Ireland, say, but we played mid-week [such as] Munster, maybe Saracens, we would fill those stadiums.

“Of course, there has to be the old moola in the middle of it, but bring back the old tours to make money, but also re-galvanise us.”

Marshall described the current schedule for top-tier players in New Zealand as “quite repetitive for them, even the international games they’re playing.”

The 81-test former halfback said playing matches against club sides, like the All Blacks did in 2008 when they faced Munster in mid-week clash at Thomond Park in Limerick, would spruce the international calendar up for players and fans alike.

“Those sorts of things are vibrant for the current professional players who get a lot of repetition in their rugby that they play now," he said.

“The opportunity for them to go somewhere, [to see] what it’s like to play in somewhere like Limerick, which is never an easy place to go.”

Marshall added that tours of that ilk "really brings people together, really brings the community together when they get a touring team, an international team, turning up in a local town.”

Kirwan emphasised the importance of a "less is more" approach to competitions such as Super Rugby, as that would allow room to create special occasions for fans that have been rarely seen in the professional era.

"Cut down Super Rugby, whatever the new one is going to look like," the former 63-test wing said.

"Leave four or five weekends so you can have North v South, you can go on tour or you can play midweek.

"I think it gives us a better opportunity, not only for the young fellas.

"We always used to know that when we went on tour it was the making of guys. They might have to make nine games.

"They might have to play midweek then back up on Saturday and if they got through that it was like earning a couple of stripes."

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Latest Comments

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?
f
frandinand 1 minutes ago

Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.


Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.


They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.


Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them

Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.

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Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings
R
RedWarrior 8 minutes ago

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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