England's Rugby Football Union has denied they have received proposals for a new annual tri-nations series. Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill had claimed earlier today the Wallabies were interested in playing South Africa and England in a month-long tri-series beginning in 2004, with each team playing each other once leading up to a final.
However the RFU today claimed they had not received any such proposals: "To date, the RFU has not received any proposals from Australia regarding a triangular series involving South Africa and England from 2004 at Twickenham," the RFU stated.
The relative value of the pound sterling to local currencies could raise the interest of the Australian and South African rugby boards, which already play a six-game tri-nations series with New Zealand each year. "We are in discussions. We were hopeful of getting the series up and running this year but it's too late to get it happening and next year is a World Cup year," an ARU spokesman said today.
Filed by James Boylan.
