Down Under in disarray over Europe rugby tours

Members of Australia's all-conquering Wallabies are divided over taking part in the European tour

By CNN's Craig Francis

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australasia's two codes of rugby are in disarray over whether to tour the UK and Europe as security fears divide both administrators and players alike.

The New Zealand Rugby League has voted unanimously to reject an invitation to tour England next month in place of Australia's test team, as security fears relating to potential terrorist attacks grip the codes.

And in the wake of Aussie rugby league national team, the Kangaroos, incurring the wrath of the public at home and abroad for pulling out of an English tour, rugby union counterparts the Wallabies are getting cold feet ahead of their European tour.

Up to six members of the Australian rugby union test team, including vice-captain Daniel Herbert and fullback Matthew Burke, could withdraw from the six-week tour due to security fears, Australia's Herald-Sun newspaper says.

Further complicating the rugby world's northern hemisphere schedule was media giant News Limited, which was reportedly involved in behind-the-scenes moves to revive the Kangaroos tour.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported the intrusion of News Ltd's general manager of Nationwide News Malcolm Noad, who is also the National Rugby League (ARL)chairman, as infuriating ARL heavyweights and posing wide-reaching consequences for the future restructuring of the code.

News Ltd has an interest in the Kangaroo tour going ahead. Rupert Murdoch's company owns BSkyB, the network that is telecasting the tour, and it owns the British Super League competition.

Wallabies in a hole

Wallabies vice captain Herbert told the Herald-Sun on Sunday he will consider pulling out if he is not satisfied with security measures to be detailed at a team briefing on Monday.

"I think all the guys are concerned because we all have partners and some have young families," Herbert said. "We'd like to know about security at venues and also if we can get out quickly if something did happen -- that is a major issue."

The report said Burke, Herbert, Toutai Kefu, Chris Latham, Chris Whitaker and Matt Cockbain were "most likely" to withdraw from the tour of Europe which the team departs next Saturday.

The report said the Wallabies would discuss security measures with Australian Rugby Union high performance manager Jeff Miller.

New Wallaby captain George Gregan said there was "widespread concern" within the team about touring but urged players to take action in the next 24 hours.

"Touring is an individual decision and no one would have a mark against their names if they pulled out," he said. "But for the team's sake it would be better if they made their decision in the next 24 hours so that we can bring new players in and bring them up to speed

Kiwis say no

New Zealand rugby league received a request from the English League last week when Australia's scheduled tour was canceled.

The New Zealand league made the decision Saturday to turn down the English invitation after president Selwyn Pearson held a lengthy consultation with Kiwis coach Gary Freeman.

Freeman indicated that he had been able to find only 15 or 16 players available to make the tour. Many frontline players, among them Stacey Jones, Nathan Cayless and Steven Kearney, were unavailable.

The New Zealand League also took into account Australia's changing stance on an English tour. Australian reports suggest the Kangaroos will consider making a shortened England tour sometime next month.