Rugby Australia Chief Eyes Salvaging All Black Tests
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Friday 37 Sports Friday, April 24, 2020 Rugby Australia chief eyes salvaging All Black Tests SYDNEY: Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle real substance to finishing off what we started has raised hopes the Wallabies can face the All at the beginning of the year and really get the Blacks later this year, salvaging some Tests from players back on the field,” she said. the sport’s coronavirus-ravaged international Meanwhile, four former Wallabies captains, calendar. including double World Cup winner John Eales, Castle conceded that Ireland and Fiji were have spoken out against a call by their counter- unlikely to tour Australia in July, while interna- parts to overhaul the leadership of Rugby Aus- tional travel restrictions mean Rugby Champi- tralia, domestic media reported yesterday. onship matches featuring South Africa and A letter — reportedly signed by 11 Wallabies Argentina are also in doubt. skippers, including Nick Farr-Jones, George But she said both Aus- Gregan and Phil Kearns tralia and New Zealand — was circulated earlier had enjoyed early success this week saying the gov- in containing COVID-19, erning body was in crisis raising the prospect The game had and the game had “lost its Bledisloe Cup matches be- way”. tween the Wallabies and ‘lost its way’ But yesterday one sig- All Blacks could proceed. natory, Michael Lynagh, “We’re most likely to open said The Australian he had up trans-Tasman borders asked for his name to be first because both our gov- removed from the letter as ernments have taken quite a similar approach to he had not been fully briefed on its contents. Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle (right) this and really got this under control,” Castle “This is not the way I do things and I have with- told the official rugby.com.au website. drawn from the whole thing,” he told the news- rent interim chair Paul McLean. “Why put it in the public domain when you There are three Bledisloe Cup Tests planned, paper. “It doesn’t mean I don’t support the “We all recognise that rugby is going through have a chairman, who was a captain, just like one each in Melbourne and Wellington in Au- change but I had quite a few questions about a very difficult period,” Eales told the newspa- you, who’s done every job in rugby known to gust, then Brisbane in October. Castle said they what they were proposing. per. “I did not sign the letter because I felt it bet- man — from player, captain, coach, administra- could still go ahead even if they were delayed. “(RA) now have a new chairman and three ter to act on concerns directly, as a group, with tor and president — and worked his butt off to “We’d like to think we could continue to deliver new board members. They have got to be al- the chairman, as he is already enacting consid- work through the pandemic fallout in a short those and they’re probably looking at later into lowed to implement change.” The Sydney Morn- erable change. time frame,” he said. that October or November time frame,” she said. ing Herald reported that Wallabies great Eales, “What I know is that there are good people Australia are languishing seventh in the Castle said a domestic Super Rugby compe- who won the Rugby World Cups in the 1991 and across all levels of rugby working hard to solve world rugby rankings and the game Down tition of up to 12 rounds could precede the led the side to a second win in 1999, joined with complex problems.” Shaw, who told the SMH he Under faces fierce competition from other Bledisloe series. “Hopefully a five or six team former Test captain Mark Loane and ex-Rugby had not been approached to sign the letter, said sports that are increasingly gaining traction home-and-away competition that can give some Australia president Tony Shaw to support cur- its release had left him “gobsmacked”. with wider audiences.—AFP Woods, Mickelson could join I’d be happy for Seb to Brady, Manning for May match stay at Ferrari: Leclerc LONDON: Charles Leclerc says he would be happy to having top billing at Maranello. to have Sebastian Vettel continue as his Ferrari For- They clashed on track on occasions, with their LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson event featuring golf superstars and football icons. mula One team mate next season, despite their radio comments making headlines. “I will respect and NFL quarterback legends Tom Brady and “I’d like to see Woods and Mickelson do the clashes on track last year. Vettel, 32, is out of contract Ferrari’s decision for whoever is next to me and at the Peyton Manning are planning a charity golf match golf, or whatever, because that’s social distance,” at the end of 2020 but Ferrari have said he is their end it’s my job to adapt to the person next to me and for May, the US media reported on Wednesday. DeSantis said last week. “You wouldn’t have a first choice, subject to negotiations, to partner the you can always learn from whoever is your team The event would be held without spectators in gallery there. You wouldn’t have crowds. But to young Monegasque whose deal runs until 2024. mate,” said Leclerc. Florida, airing live on TV with the proceeds going put that on TV, I think people have been starved A decision could come before the start of a sea- “I will welcome anybody. But if Seb stays I will to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic, American for content.” son stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports in definitely be happy.” Leclerc has filled his time in broadcaster ESPN reported. The PGA Tour said it hasn’t officially endorsed Italy have suggested, however, that Ferrari also have lockdown with esports, training and doing his best Turner Sports said one possible date is Me- the event but is evaluating health and safety con- Renault’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren’s to stay mentally in the zone needed to go racing. morial Day weekend May 23-25. Manning, now cerns. One location said to be considered is Spaniard Carlos Sainz in mind as leading alternatives He said the world of virtual racing had helped retired, told a Denver radio station on Wednesday Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, lo- if a deal falls through. keep concentration levels up, with the 22-year-old that there had been talks about such an event cated just north of Woods’ home in Jupiter. The “I am very happy with Seb,” Leclerc told re- winning four races last weekend including his second anyway. “And now, to have a chance to have a PGA Tour has suspended play since the first porters in a virtual news conference. “It (the relation- virtual F1 grand prix in succession. The next target is major fundraising event for COVID-19 relief, al- round of The Players Championship on March 12. ship) was good even though we’ve had some few to race against Vettel in the virtual world as well. most like a telethon if you will... if that can take The Tour’s revised schedule released last Thurs- problems on the track, like in Brazil. “I think it has al- Vettel told reporters last week that he had also place, I’m all in for that.” day would begin with a tournament June 11-14 in ways been a good relationship even though from the recently got a simulator but, with three young chil- The Action Network reported that it is likely Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to the Fort Worth outside it was probably not seen as it was but it’s al- dren keeping him busy, had still to set it up properly. Woods and Manning will compete against Mick- event, the other June tournaments currently ways been good between us.” “I’m not racing against Seb yet but I will definitely elson and Brady. Florida’s Republican Governor slated to be held without fans are the RBC Her- Leclerc beat Vettel on race wins, poles, points and send him a text very soon whenever he has finished Ron DeSantis recently expressed support for the itage and the Travelers Championship. — AFP podiums last year in what seemed at times an uneasy his installation to try and race with him a little bit, pairing of a hungry young gun with a champion used which will be fun,” commented Leclerc.—Reuters.