Thanks for leaving us out of the money-scramble

By WYNNE GRAY

New Zealand should appreciate being left off the invitation list for the proposed Twickenham triangular series involving the Wallabies, the Springboks and England.

The All Blacks are often in the northern hemisphere at the same time as the series is to be held, but their absence should be seen as a blessing rather than a snub.

It is a chance to heed the persistent demands about player welfare, a time to seek solutions to New Zealand dramas with the NPC and Super 12 instead of adding another profit-seeking series.

New Zealand is already involved in the annual Tri-Nations series, which has dulled the historic intrigue of competition with Australia and South Africa.

The Twickenham version will not affect the Tri-Nations deal which expires in 2005, but can be extended to 2007.

In the latest money-grubbing rugby operation, the participants are reported to have agreed on an annual end-of-year series, starting in 2004 but excluding World Cup seasons.

The rationale was that the Wallabies and Springboks would be in the UK at that time of year, and it made sense to pit the sides against each other in a mini-tournament.

Australian and South African officials were publicly optimistic, but in England, RFU chief executive Francis Baron was not so effusive.

"Our tours and development policy document have been with the IRB since October last year, and its broad principles have been in the public domain for some time," he said.

"It does not include a triangular series at Twickenham."

Ah hah. Do we believe the Baron or the others?

"From the ARU's point of view we're just looking for extra competitions to be involved in," an ARU spokesman said.

There is the issue - or at least the conning tower of the submerged issue.

Money, loot, profit, dosh, moolah, spondoolee is the target.

Forget the feelgood slush about a tournament - those contests prove nothing.

It is all about money in a variety of ways.

Apparently, even after the IRB is offered about £2 million ($6.6 million) royalties for each series, each side will make multi-millions from broadcasting rights, gate receipts and sponsorships.

South Africa has to go for these goldmine matches as its players are leaving the country because the union and the economy are unable to compete with overseas deals.

There appears to be a vote-catching coincidence if England is involved.

In recent weeks the union has also agreed to host the troubled North-South game at Twickenham when it could not be staged at Cardiff.

England are in competition with France to host the 2007 World Cup.

Tenders and submissions to host the tournament are due at the IRB soon, and a decision will be made next month.

A triangular series would require IRB approval because it is outside the international schedule.

IRB chairman and powerbroker Vernon Pugh is seriously ill in hospital, so the November meeting may be dominated by senior administrators from Australia, South Africa and England.