The Rugby Football Union have officially cancelled England’s proposed summer tour to the Pacific Islands.
The Rugby Football Union have officially cancelled England’s proposed summer tour to the Pacific Islands.
Intensive discussions have taken place about an alternative trip, including the possibility of a one-Test trip to New Zealand, but RFU chief executive Francis Baron admitted that prospects for a more likely two-game series with Argentina are 'no more than 50-50'.
The situation is bound to infuriate coach Clive Woodward, who has claimed that a tour this summer is essential preparation for next year's World Cup campaign.
However, the RFU have found themselves backed into a corner over revised dates for World Cup qualifying and the Pacific Islanders' refusal to cancel unsanctioned matches against New Zealand and South Africa.
England had been scheduled to play Tonga, Samoa and Fiji on successive weekends from June 22nd, but despite the tour being verbally agreed with the International Rugby Board, its subsidiary World Cup committee decided to schedule the Pacific Island qualifying rounds immediately prior to those dates.
The Islanders, worried about the likely strength of the England touring party and a possible loss of income, then arranged more lucrative games against the Springboks and All Blacks and despite IRB opposition, have refused to switch.
England have been offered two Tests in Argentina on July 6th and 13th, but those dates cut into the 11-week player rest period which was seen as an essential component of the Premier Rugby Partnership agreement signed under the threat of strike action last year.
"It is clearly a monumental mess," admitted Baron. "It is a very frustrating situation for us to be in because we were committed to the Pacific Islands tour.
"The World Cup dates shouldn't have been set up in that window and I can understand the problems the Pacific Island countries are facing.
"This is a situation we have been worrying about. We set two deadlines for this to be sorted out and we waved both of them. The longer we have left it, the more difficult it becomes to find an alternative."
