Pacific tournament 'a very good thing', says Henry

CAPE TOWN - All Blacks coach Graham Henry has welcomed the International Rugby Board's (IRB) plan to bankroll the development of second-tier rugby countries by pitting struggling Pacific Island nations and Japan against the Junior All Blacks next year.

The IRB has unveiled a new Pacific Six Nations competition to be held next June-July comprising the second-string New Zealand team, Australia A, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan.

Proclaimed as its biggest investment in high-performance rugby in 120 years, the IRB has responded to criticism during since the 2003 Rugby World Cup that it ignored the plight of second-tier nations by formulating a three-year development programme intended to improve the competitiveness of rugby worldwide.

"I think everyone's a winner," Henry said when appraising considering the six-nation tournament.

"It's a very good thing for the Pacific Islands and Japan as well, and it gives New Zealand a competitive tier for the Junior All Blacks."

The timing will not impact on the NPC and gives Henry the ability to keep players primed for a call-up to early season All Blacks tests in the event of injury or form issues.

The New Zealand Rugby Union reprised the Junior All Blacks brand this year, undertaking a low-key three-match tour of Australia.

Although the win over Queensland and twin defeats of Australia A were poorly attended, the matches achieved the goal of keeping a core of All Blacks contenders match-fit in case they were required for the Lions series -- notably flanker Marty Holah, who oscillated between both camps, playing against Australia A and in the third test in place of Richie McCaw.

The IRB executive committee passed the strategy after two days of meetings in Cape Town, where the All Blacks take on South Africa in the Tri-Nations tomorrow.

Among the pledges, the battling Pacific Islands will be given nearly $8 million in funding for high-performance initiatives that are designed ultimately level the playing field after some embarrassing scorelines this year.

Samoa, who almost upset eventual champions England in the 2003 World Cup, were thrashed 74-7 by the Wallabies two months ago, while on the same weekend the All Blacks ran up 91 unanswered points against Fiji.

- NZPA