KEY POINTS:
The Tri Nations looks set for a little joie de vivre with the likely inclusion of France in an expanded series from 2009.
The Tri Nations will take a break for two years after this year's competition, with the Kiwis due to venture on their All Golds tour of the UK next year and the World Cup to be hosted by Australia and possibly New Zealand in 2008.
But the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) executive committee are keen to cash in on the success of the Tri Nations. They met in Brisbane on Friday to discuss a number of issues, including France's involvement in the Tri Nations from 2009.
The executive committee have asked the Federation Francaise de Rugby a XIII to provide a business plan and costings, should the series be expanded. France can be expected to host some games in 2009.
Their inclusion has been likely for some time and it's hoped the inclusion of Stacey Jones' Les Catalans in the UK Super League will improve the standard of the sport in France.
Although they've run the Kiwis close in their past couple of matches, leading before losing 38-22 to New Zealand in the middle of last year's Tri Nations, the French have performed poorly in the new Federation Shield competition, losing heavily to England and Tonga in recent weeks. They were walloped 48-10 by Tonga in Castres last weekend and failed to qualify for this weekend's Federation Shield final.
The inclusion of France would mean restructuring the format. At present, each country plays the other twice before a final but a fourth team would translate into an abbreviated series with each country playing the others only once to find the finalists.
"One of the benefits would be everyone would play each other just once, meaning fewer games," Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr told the Daily Telegraph. "That's something the NRL clubs would welcome.
"But because there are fewer games, it's important the matches we do have are all competitive because attendances will be very important. We need to monitor France's progress between now and 2009."
The RLIF also decided not to change the rules regarding player eligibility or the punishment for fielding ineligible players in the wake of the Nathan Fien Grannygate saga.
New Zealand acting chairman Andrew Chalmers tabled a proposal based on rugby union's model - in which countries aren't docked points for a breach but are instead fined up to $100,000. This was dismissed.
"After consideration of the existing player eligibility rules, the RLIF has come to the conclusion that it remains the responsibility of participating nations to ensure players are eligible," RLIF chairman Colin Love said.
Reports out of Sydney suggest the new 2008 World Cup office will trawl through the credentials of all players involved in international competition in an effort to weed out any who are not eligible. Chalmers formally apologised to the RLIF executive for the Grannygate debacle.
