'All Stars' idea to level field

Joe Rokocoko and Lote Tuqiri would qualify for the suggested Island side. Picture / Kenny Rodger

SYDNEY - The Australian Rugby Union will consider a State of Origin-style series where the Wallabies and All Blacks of Pacific Island descent would line up against the transtasman powerhouses.

The one-off matches are designed to generate much-needed cash for struggling second-tier rugby nations Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

Players of Pacific Islands ancestry - including Wallabies stars Lote Tuqiri and George Smith and All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerry Collins - would appear for the Islanders All Stars in one-off matches.

The Australian union is yet to broach the project with its New Zealand counterpart but both organisations would need to fit the matches into an already congested playing schedule, plus formulate a new broadcasting deal.

A Pacific Islands team comprising Fiji, Samoa and Tonga played against the All Blacks and Wallabies last year though they were obviously lacking top-quality drawcards such as Tuqiri and Rokocoko.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper estimated gate receipts could generate A$1.5 million ($1.63 million) for the Pacific Island nations.

 

An Islanders All Star team promises to test New Zealand and Australia should stars be released.

Tuqiri, born in Fiji, could play fullback with another two native Fijians - new All Blacks sensation Sitiveni Sivivatu and the out-of-favour Rokocoko - on the wings.

All Blacks centres Mils Muliaina and Casey Laulala were both born in Samoa, while Tana Umaga and Ma'a Nonu are of Pacific Islands heritage despite being born in New Zealand.

Current Samoan five-eighths Tanner Vili could be drafted from Borders in Scotland while Fijian skipper Moses Rauluni plays with Saracens in England.

Standouts in the back row would include Tongan-born former Wallabies vice-captain Toutai Kefu, current Australian flanker Smith and the All Blacks' blindside Collins, who was also born in Samoa.

Fijian-born former Wallabies blindside Radike Samo could potentially team up with Fiji's world-class Ifereimi Rawaqa in the second row.

All Blacks prop Saimone Taumoepeau is Tongan-born and could form a front row with Samoan hooker Trevor Leota - who is contracted to Wasps in England - and the Auckland-based Tongan test prop Taufa'ao Filise.

At the weekend Fiji were pummelled 91-0 by the All Blacks and the Wallabies blitzed Samoa 74-7.

- NZPA