The Australian Rugby League Commission’s plan for int'l rugby league is "in danger of falling at the first hurdle" after the players union refused to provide its backing for the "ambitious schedule" in the lead-up to next week’s meeting of the Rugby League Int'l Federation, according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. The ARLC last week unveiled a "four-year rolling calendar" for int'l football highlighted by the return of Kangaroo tours, more matches involving Pacific and European nations and "the potential for a world nines tournament." ARLC Chair Peter Beattie and NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said that they would take the proposal to a meeting of the RLIF's execs next week in Singapore, "hoping that the plan would be adopted." Greenberg said at last week’s announcement of the schedule that there had been talks with the players' union, but Rugby League Players' Association GM of Stakeholder Relations Clint Newton "disputed that account." Newton: "Whenever it is going to impact on players’ time and work and the added risks that are associated with playing any additional fixtures, we need to have some oversight over that. ... It’s not as simplistic as putting together a draw. We’re not in a position to support it" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/19).
