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By Brent Read
LEEDS, England, Nov 23 AAP - The International Rugby League Federation delayed a decision on the future of the Tri Nations tournament today as it emerged Australia could host Great Britain and France as early as next season.
IRLF chairman Colin Love announced the federation would wait until this year's Tri Nations was complete before deciding whether to play the tournament again in 2005.
However, it's likely the IRLF will heed the wishes of the Australian players and defer the next Tri Nations until 2006.
In its place, Great Britain and France are in line to tour the southern hemisphere next season.
It's been more than 10 years since Great Britain last played multiple Tests in Australia while France's previous visit was in 1994.
"The executive won't be meeting again until early next year but obviously we'll be making a decision before then on the timing and location on the next Tri Nations," IRLF chairman Colin Love said today.
"The future of the tournament is assured."
However, Love indicated the Australian Rugby League could host France in 2005 - a pointer towards the Kangaroos staying at home next season.
Australia would be unlikely to host Les Chanticleers and then fly to England for a Tri Nations tournament.
"There will be some international football (in 2005)," Love said.
"France want to come out to Australian and play. We're exploring the possibility of them coming ... next year."
The international board's deferral of a decision on the Tri Nations came as Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett once again hailed the success of the tournament.
Bennett compared the interest generated by the Tri Nations to that enjoyed by State of Origin when it was kicked off in 1980.
"It's difficult for them," Bennett said of the international federation.
"There's players that are tired, have played a lot of football and you have a concept that's brained them from day one.
"State of Origin never started like this. They were only game to play one game the first time they ever played State of Origin and it all grew from there.
"There's a little bit of a dilemma getting the balance right so the players can have an off-season somewhere in the near future."
And Bennett called on the British players to go public with their thoughts on the tournament's future.
"We hear a lot about the Australian players, can someone tell me what the English players feel," Bennett said.
"They have been playing these series every year for the last three or four years that we have played as well. They obviously have a point of view.
"They play as much football as we play so there's a bit more than just Australia involved in this."
It's understood the Great Britain players are champing at the bit to return to Australia.
Their last visit ended in disaster - they were beaten 64-10 in Sydney in a one-off Test match in 2002 - but their performance in the Tri Nations has reinvigorated the game at international level.
"The players are terrific - they love playing for their country and they love playing alongside the best players in the game and against the best players in the game," Love said.
"At the end of the day we have spoken to them, we will take their views into consideration, but at the end of the day those issues will be decided by the international federation...and I'm sure they'll go along with whatever we do.
"It's terrific the euphoria that's around at the moment because of the success of the tournament. We'd love to be able to ride that wave."
LEEDS, England, Nov 23 AAP - The International Rugby League Federation delayed a decision on the future of the Tri Nations tournament today as it emerged Australia could host Great Britain and France as early as next season.
IRLF chairman Colin Love announced the federation would wait until this year's Tri Nations was complete before deciding whether to play the tournament again in 2005.
However, it's likely the IRLF will heed the wishes of the Australian players and defer the next Tri Nations until 2006.
In its place, Great Britain and France are in line to tour the southern hemisphere next season.
It's been more than 10 years since Great Britain last played multiple Tests in Australia while France's previous visit was in 1994.
"The executive won't be meeting again until early next year but obviously we'll be making a decision before then on the timing and location on the next Tri Nations," IRLF chairman Colin Love said today.
"The future of the tournament is assured."
However, Love indicated the Australian Rugby League could host France in 2005 - a pointer towards the Kangaroos staying at home next season.
Australia would be unlikely to host Les Chanticleers and then fly to England for a Tri Nations tournament.
"There will be some international football (in 2005)," Love said.
"France want to come out to Australian and play. We're exploring the possibility of them coming ... next year."
The international board's deferral of a decision on the Tri Nations came as Kangaroos coach Wayne Bennett once again hailed the success of the tournament.
Bennett compared the interest generated by the Tri Nations to that enjoyed by State of Origin when it was kicked off in 1980.
"It's difficult for them," Bennett said of the international federation.
"There's players that are tired, have played a lot of football and you have a concept that's brained them from day one.
"State of Origin never started like this. They were only game to play one game the first time they ever played State of Origin and it all grew from there.
"There's a little bit of a dilemma getting the balance right so the players can have an off-season somewhere in the near future."
And Bennett called on the British players to go public with their thoughts on the tournament's future.
"We hear a lot about the Australian players, can someone tell me what the English players feel," Bennett said.
"They have been playing these series every year for the last three or four years that we have played as well. They obviously have a point of view.
"They play as much football as we play so there's a bit more than just Australia involved in this."
It's understood the Great Britain players are champing at the bit to return to Australia.
Their last visit ended in disaster - they were beaten 64-10 in Sydney in a one-off Test match in 2002 - but their performance in the Tri Nations has reinvigorated the game at international level.
"The players are terrific - they love playing for their country and they love playing alongside the best players in the game and against the best players in the game," Love said.
"At the end of the day we have spoken to them, we will take their views into consideration, but at the end of the day those issues will be decided by the international federation...and I'm sure they'll go along with whatever we do.
"It's terrific the euphoria that's around at the moment because of the success of the tournament. We'd love to be able to ride that wave."
