Weak teams threaten tours - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Weak teams threaten tours

Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill has warned that June Test matches against European sides will be scrapped if the tourists keeping sending understrength sides to the southern hemisphere.

He also suggested his country, New Zealand and South Africa should not come to Europe for autumn games unless they receive a share of profits from ticket sales.

England and France both fielded weakened touring teams this summer despite a meeting between the major nations to discuss the issue.

O'Neill said: "If there comes a point in time where they do not send their best teams south and we suffer the consequences of a downturn in gate and downturn in popularity of the game you might say: 'Okay don't come in June and we'll come north if you pay us'."

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