1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:17,547 Speaker 2: A joint statement from eight international rugby unions, including New Zealand's, 4 00:00:17,547 --> 00:00:20,827 Speaker 2: this week warning players they will not be eligible for 5 00:00:20,947 --> 00:00:25,147 Speaker 2: international selection if they switch to the proposed Rugby three 6 00:00:25,307 --> 00:00:28,907 Speaker 2: sixty League. Now, there have been reports of big money 7 00:00:28,947 --> 00:00:32,187 Speaker 2: offers for leading rugby and rugby league players for the competition, 8 00:00:32,587 --> 00:00:36,347 Speaker 2: which is being promoted by former England international Mike Tindall. 9 00:00:36,867 --> 00:00:39,667 Speaker 2: Our three sixty organizers have said they want to work 10 00:00:39,707 --> 00:00:43,547 Speaker 2: with the unions and that player welfare is their top priority, 11 00:00:43,907 --> 00:00:48,307 Speaker 2: but New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France 12 00:00:48,387 --> 00:00:53,067 Speaker 2: and Italy have united in their opposition. The union said, 13 00:00:53,267 --> 00:00:57,307 Speaker 2: as a group of national rugby unions, we are urging 14 00:00:57,507 --> 00:01:02,267 Speaker 2: extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the 15 00:01:02,347 --> 00:01:05,587 Speaker 2: proposed R three sixty competition. They went on to say 16 00:01:05,867 --> 00:01:09,667 Speaker 2: we will be advising men's and women's players that participation 17 00:01:09,907 --> 00:01:15,387 Speaker 2: in R three sixty would make them ineligible for international selection. 18 00:01:15,987 --> 00:01:19,667 Speaker 2: New Zealand Rugby's general manager of Professional Rugby and Performance 19 00:01:19,867 --> 00:01:22,227 Speaker 2: is Chris Landram, who joins US now. Chris, thanks for 20 00:01:22,227 --> 00:01:25,907 Speaker 2: your time this afternoon. This, of course, doesn't actually change 21 00:01:25,947 --> 00:01:28,947 Speaker 2: anything from New Zealand Rugby's point of view, does it. 22 00:01:28,947 --> 00:01:31,267 Speaker 2: It's always been the case that you have to play 23 00:01:31,307 --> 00:01:34,307 Speaker 2: super rugby to play for the All Blacks. But were 24 00:01:34,347 --> 00:01:38,907 Speaker 2: you surprised that South Africa and Australia, who do select 25 00:01:38,987 --> 00:01:42,587 Speaker 2: overseas players for their test teams, have also said they 26 00:01:42,667 --> 00:01:46,787 Speaker 2: won't select our three sixty players for international rugby. 27 00:01:47,867 --> 00:01:52,747 Speaker 3: Oh pure funny. Thanks for having me on again, mate, No, 28 00:01:52,907 --> 00:01:59,147 Speaker 3: I'm not surprised. I think when all the unions are 29 00:01:59,187 --> 00:02:07,027 Speaker 3: looking at three sixty and thinking about the implication of 30 00:02:07,067 --> 00:02:12,067 Speaker 3: their players playing in it and the league establishing. Given 31 00:02:12,107 --> 00:02:17,987 Speaker 3: we've had very very minimal dialogue with the principles of 32 00:02:18,107 --> 00:02:23,667 Speaker 3: the proposed tournament, I think everybody's seeing threat at the 33 00:02:23,707 --> 00:02:29,307 Speaker 3: moment and a real challenge to the existing rugby business model. 34 00:02:29,547 --> 00:02:31,547 Speaker 3: So I'm not surprised at all. 35 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:37,987 Speaker 2: Could that threat over time become an opportunity. 36 00:02:38,907 --> 00:02:42,387 Speaker 3: Well, we're open minded, right, but one of the challenges 37 00:02:42,387 --> 00:02:45,507 Speaker 3: at the moment is that most of the principles have 38 00:02:45,827 --> 00:02:49,147 Speaker 3: largely gone to ground. It's very difficult to get any 39 00:02:49,187 --> 00:02:54,987 Speaker 3: information or responses to questions that either ourselves or the 40 00:02:55,027 --> 00:03:00,667 Speaker 3: international Rugby Players Association have have asked about things like, 41 00:03:00,707 --> 00:03:04,867 Speaker 3: how will this actually work in practice? Is it even 42 00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:10,267 Speaker 3: seasible for them to release players? What are their plans, 43 00:03:10,387 --> 00:03:15,267 Speaker 3: particularly around women's rugby, because the release windows for international 44 00:03:15,347 --> 00:03:18,787 Speaker 3: women's rugby occur at different times in the calendar to 45 00:03:18,827 --> 00:03:25,347 Speaker 3: the men's. A whole range of questions like this, and 46 00:03:25,427 --> 00:03:28,667 Speaker 3: until those get answered, it's impossible to know whether there's 47 00:03:28,867 --> 00:03:33,427 Speaker 3: opportunity in it at all. But the threat in the 48 00:03:33,467 --> 00:03:38,027 Speaker 3: absence of information seems really clear to all national unions, 49 00:03:38,027 --> 00:03:41,467 Speaker 3: I think, and if I could summarize that pioneer, I 50 00:03:41,507 --> 00:03:44,667 Speaker 3: know we don't like talking about business models when we're 51 00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:49,427 Speaker 3: talking about sport, but the reality is, in simple terms, 52 00:03:49,867 --> 00:03:55,227 Speaker 3: professional rugby as it's constructed globally now makes money, and 53 00:03:55,267 --> 00:04:00,107 Speaker 3: that money funds the community game, and it's the same 54 00:04:00,347 --> 00:04:05,547 Speaker 3: for New Zealand or England, or Ireland or France, any 55 00:04:05,587 --> 00:04:08,547 Speaker 3: of the countries that have signed up now. The R 56 00:04:08,627 --> 00:04:14,587 Speaker 3: three sixty model appears to be founded on a concept 57 00:04:14,667 --> 00:04:19,347 Speaker 3: that their professional competition will make money, but that money 58 00:04:19,347 --> 00:04:25,107 Speaker 3: won't be reinvested back into the community game around the world, 59 00:04:25,267 --> 00:04:28,027 Speaker 3: that those profits will be heading straight to the back 60 00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:32,027 Speaker 3: pockets of a wealthy elite. So that's the challenge and 61 00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:35,387 Speaker 3: that's why you're seeing the national unions come out the 62 00:04:35,387 --> 00:04:35,827 Speaker 3: way we have. 63 00:04:36,467 --> 00:04:40,267 Speaker 2: So our three sixty's response to the union's joint statement 64 00:04:41,107 --> 00:04:44,627 Speaker 2: included the sentence, our philosophy is clear. If players want 65 00:04:44,667 --> 00:04:46,867 Speaker 2: to play for their country, they should have that opportunity. 66 00:04:47,107 --> 00:04:50,267 Speaker 2: Why would the union stand in their way? What is 67 00:04:50,307 --> 00:04:51,267 Speaker 2: your reaction to that? 68 00:04:53,907 --> 00:04:57,427 Speaker 3: Well, from a New Zealand perspective, it's really clear. Right, 69 00:04:57,467 --> 00:05:01,387 Speaker 3: We've always wanted our best players playing in our domestic competitions. 70 00:05:01,427 --> 00:05:09,107 Speaker 3: Our eligibility policy is founded on that premise and to 71 00:05:09,147 --> 00:05:12,787 Speaker 3: this sixtent R Sbrey sixty is no different from any 72 00:05:12,827 --> 00:05:17,107 Speaker 3: other competition that's come along over the years. We have 73 00:05:17,627 --> 00:05:20,627 Speaker 3: made the odd exception around sabbaticalsadn't we piney And it's 74 00:05:20,867 --> 00:05:24,987 Speaker 3: probably going to be your next question, but the reality 75 00:05:25,067 --> 00:05:29,227 Speaker 3: is those are in competitions that exist within the existing 76 00:05:29,547 --> 00:05:36,187 Speaker 3: Rugby ecosystem, not a competition that, for want of more information, 77 00:05:37,467 --> 00:05:40,747 Speaker 3: looks like it's a threat to that ecosystem and our 78 00:05:40,787 --> 00:05:45,667 Speaker 3: ability to fund our community programs and our pathway. 79 00:05:45,827 --> 00:05:48,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do have sabbaticals written down here, and I 80 00:05:48,667 --> 00:05:52,147 Speaker 2: assume that that sabbaticals wouldn't be available in R three sixty. 81 00:05:52,187 --> 00:05:55,067 Speaker 2: But what about players who come off contract with you, 82 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:57,987 Speaker 2: go away, play in other countries, then come back home. 83 00:05:58,267 --> 00:06:01,587 Speaker 2: Lester fighting Looker the latest example, returned from his time 84 00:06:01,627 --> 00:06:04,547 Speaker 2: in France and water Black Jersey again last weekend. Richie 85 00:06:04,627 --> 00:06:08,067 Speaker 2: Wonger coming back from Japan next year in the future, 86 00:06:08,227 --> 00:06:11,507 Speaker 2: could you see some of your players leaving to play 87 00:06:11,587 --> 00:06:14,867 Speaker 2: Rugby three sixty for a season or two and then 88 00:06:14,947 --> 00:06:15,547 Speaker 2: coming back. 89 00:06:17,587 --> 00:06:22,227 Speaker 3: Well, nothing's impossible, Pioney, But there's a big difference between 90 00:06:22,747 --> 00:06:27,147 Speaker 3: going and playing for Toulon or going and playing for Tashiba. 91 00:06:27,947 --> 00:06:31,387 Speaker 3: And at the moment, what we understand to be going 92 00:06:31,427 --> 00:06:34,427 Speaker 3: to play for R three sixty, and that is those 93 00:06:35,467 --> 00:06:39,587 Speaker 3: in the competitions I quoted the French competition, the Japanese competition. 94 00:06:40,267 --> 00:06:43,787 Speaker 3: They exist within the current rugby ecosystem and that allows 95 00:06:43,947 --> 00:06:47,787 Speaker 3: for the profits from the international game and professional rugby 96 00:06:48,427 --> 00:06:51,907 Speaker 3: to circle around the system and fund the community game. 97 00:06:52,387 --> 00:06:56,947 Speaker 3: And so we've shown some flexibility, we've shown open minds 98 00:06:56,947 --> 00:07:01,147 Speaker 3: in the past to support our retention and support our 99 00:07:01,187 --> 00:07:09,107 Speaker 3: all Blacks performance. R three sixty appears to be a 100 00:07:09,147 --> 00:07:12,347 Speaker 3: step too far, mate, because the money's not going to 101 00:07:12,387 --> 00:07:14,427 Speaker 3: come back and float around the system and fund our 102 00:07:14,427 --> 00:07:16,387 Speaker 3: clubs and our schools. 103 00:07:17,747 --> 00:07:19,747 Speaker 2: Three sixty say, and I guess you have to take 104 00:07:19,787 --> 00:07:21,587 Speaker 2: this with a grain of salt. That they have agreements 105 00:07:21,587 --> 00:07:24,667 Speaker 2: in place with two hundred players. Do you know how 106 00:07:24,747 --> 00:07:26,707 Speaker 2: many of any of those are New Zealanders. 107 00:07:29,267 --> 00:07:33,147 Speaker 3: Well, what I can say is that weighing in R 108 00:07:33,227 --> 00:07:35,867 Speaker 3: three sixty is not something that's come up in any 109 00:07:36,187 --> 00:07:39,787 Speaker 3: All Blacks contract negotiations we've had in the last twelve months. 110 00:07:41,427 --> 00:07:45,187 Speaker 3: Our players appear to be really excited by the calendar 111 00:07:45,267 --> 00:07:48,627 Speaker 3: of rugby that's available if you're playing in New Zealand 112 00:07:48,667 --> 00:07:51,867 Speaker 3: over the next four years. It's not impossible that some 113 00:07:51,907 --> 00:07:58,147 Speaker 3: have signed some free contract agreements. By all I'd say 114 00:07:58,227 --> 00:08:01,707 Speaker 3: is I really hope the players and agents are doing 115 00:08:01,747 --> 00:08:08,027 Speaker 3: the illegal due diligence, that they understand whether those agreements 116 00:08:08,267 --> 00:08:12,947 Speaker 3: are binding or are on foot, and have taken advice 117 00:08:12,987 --> 00:08:13,227 Speaker 3: on it. 118 00:08:13,987 --> 00:08:16,107 Speaker 2: And this might not be a question for you, given 119 00:08:16,147 --> 00:08:18,547 Speaker 2: that you're concern as current players, but do you think 120 00:08:18,587 --> 00:08:20,947 Speaker 2: players who reached the end of their contracts with New 121 00:08:21,067 --> 00:08:23,227 Speaker 2: Zealand Rugby then a head off shore and this has 122 00:08:23,507 --> 00:08:28,507 Speaker 2: happened most regularly to Japan to end their careers, do 123 00:08:28,547 --> 00:08:30,707 Speaker 2: you think those sorts of players would be tempted by 124 00:08:31,187 --> 00:08:33,787 Speaker 2: R three point sixty as opposed to going and playing 125 00:08:33,827 --> 00:08:34,907 Speaker 2: in Japan, for example. 126 00:08:37,227 --> 00:08:39,707 Speaker 3: Look, I'm sure there's temptation there because the sorts of 127 00:08:39,787 --> 00:08:44,947 Speaker 3: numbers that are being banded about are considerable, right, but 128 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:51,267 Speaker 3: nobody really knows whether they're real, or how they will 129 00:08:51,307 --> 00:08:57,307 Speaker 3: be funded, or the economics of a tournament where you know, 130 00:08:57,307 --> 00:09:00,547 Speaker 3: it's essentially a traveling roadshow and there's a huge, huge 131 00:09:00,627 --> 00:09:06,907 Speaker 3: cost involved in putting on a competition of that order, 132 00:09:08,427 --> 00:09:12,507 Speaker 3: and it may well be that the principles and the 133 00:09:12,547 --> 00:09:17,067 Speaker 3: funders and behind it can afford to do that. But yeah, look, 134 00:09:17,107 --> 00:09:20,787 Speaker 3: I understand the temptation. I think what the national unions 135 00:09:20,787 --> 00:09:24,827 Speaker 3: have established, again in the absence of any real engagement 136 00:09:24,827 --> 00:09:29,907 Speaker 3: with R three sixty, is that players have got a choice. 137 00:09:31,107 --> 00:09:34,467 Speaker 3: And indeed, even the competition still needs to be sanctioned 138 00:09:34,467 --> 00:09:36,947 Speaker 3: by World Rugby. And I see that the third that 139 00:09:37,627 --> 00:09:40,067 Speaker 3: sanctioning application till the middle of next year. It was 140 00:09:40,147 --> 00:09:45,267 Speaker 3: due to be discussed and determined by World Rugby in September. 141 00:09:46,147 --> 00:09:47,387 Speaker 2: Do you think it'll get off the ground. 142 00:09:49,467 --> 00:09:53,867 Speaker 3: I don't know. I've been in the game and around 143 00:09:53,867 --> 00:09:59,667 Speaker 3: the game for a long time we've seen quote unquote 144 00:09:59,667 --> 00:10:07,507 Speaker 3: rebel circuits discussed before, or alternative competitions discussed before. Many 145 00:10:07,547 --> 00:10:12,747 Speaker 3: have come and gone. I would say R three sixty 146 00:10:13,227 --> 00:10:16,307 Speaker 3: has always seemed a little bit more serious to us. 147 00:10:16,787 --> 00:10:22,507 Speaker 3: Certainly the discussions around it inside the rugby business have 148 00:10:23,467 --> 00:10:27,947 Speaker 3: been ongoing for over twelve months. Probably now will it 149 00:10:27,987 --> 00:10:31,867 Speaker 3: get up? I just don't know. It's really a question 150 00:10:32,267 --> 00:10:36,867 Speaker 3: probably for players and agents. What I'm focused on is 151 00:10:37,467 --> 00:10:40,747 Speaker 3: New Zealand. New Zealand rugby are all blacks and black films. 152 00:10:42,027 --> 00:10:46,307 Speaker 3: We've got a really fantastic calendar of rugby coming up 153 00:10:46,467 --> 00:10:49,747 Speaker 3: for our best players to participate in. We know they're 154 00:10:49,787 --> 00:10:54,027 Speaker 3: really excited about that. Tours to and from South Africa, 155 00:10:54,747 --> 00:10:59,227 Speaker 3: British and Irish Lions tours, coming Nations championships, hopefully a 156 00:10:59,267 --> 00:11:05,227 Speaker 3: World Club Cup at some point. There's so much to 157 00:11:05,307 --> 00:11:10,467 Speaker 3: look forward to. Truly unique five year period coming up 158 00:11:10,507 --> 00:11:16,227 Speaker 3: for you know, best players, our teams in black and 159 00:11:16,987 --> 00:11:18,187 Speaker 3: that's where our focus is. 160 00:11:18,707 --> 00:11:22,587 Speaker 2: Chris, thank you for clarifying New Zealand Rugby's viewpoints so eloquently. 161 00:11:22,627 --> 00:11:24,707 Speaker 2: Always appreciate your time. Thanks for taking the call. 162 00:11:25,347 --> 00:11:26,667 Speaker 3: But is your pioney nice to chat? 163 00:11:26,867 --> 00:11:28,627 Speaker 2: Nice to tet to you too, Chris. Chris Lenderm, New 164 00:11:28,707 --> 00:11:32,467 Speaker 2: Zealand Rugby's general manager of Professional Rugby and Performance, can 165 00:11:32,547 --> 00:11:35,427 Speaker 2: you get your views on our three sixty oh eight 166 00:11:35,507 --> 00:11:38,707 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty ten eighty. Chris Lendrum made New Zealand 167 00:11:38,787 --> 00:11:42,027 Speaker 2: Rugby's view pretty clear there, and it's a consistent view, 168 00:11:43,307 --> 00:11:47,747 Speaker 2: no change from the stance they've always taken. If you 169 00:11:47,747 --> 00:11:50,107 Speaker 2: want to play for the All Blacks, you play Super 170 00:11:50,187 --> 00:11:52,787 Speaker 2: Rugby and that stance is paid off. New Zealand Rugby 171 00:11:52,867 --> 00:11:56,347 Speaker 2: has every player they want for the next World Cup 172 00:11:56,387 --> 00:11:59,547 Speaker 2: contracted to the end of twenty twenty seven, and they 173 00:11:59,587 --> 00:12:02,947 Speaker 2: have a dozen or so players contracted Beyond that, they've 174 00:12:02,947 --> 00:12:06,147 Speaker 2: done a very good job of making sure our most 175 00:12:06,347 --> 00:12:07,987 Speaker 2: i hortant players are locked in. 176 00:12:09,187 --> 00:12:09,347 Speaker 3: Now. 177 00:12:09,387 --> 00:12:13,467 Speaker 2: The fact that South Africa and Australia in particular have 178 00:12:13,627 --> 00:12:16,867 Speaker 2: joined this United Front is more telling for me because 179 00:12:17,547 --> 00:12:21,227 Speaker 2: it's a departure from their policy of selecting players from 180 00:12:21,227 --> 00:12:25,507 Speaker 2: outside their own domestic competitions for test matches. So their 181 00:12:25,627 --> 00:12:31,387 Speaker 2: involvement in this United Front is a departure from their 182 00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:34,747 Speaker 2: normal policy, and Chris Landrum a couple of times pointed 183 00:12:34,787 --> 00:12:37,467 Speaker 2: out the fact that proceeds from professional rugby in the 184 00:12:37,547 --> 00:12:41,347 Speaker 2: unions that have joined together on this are fed back 185 00:12:41,347 --> 00:12:43,467 Speaker 2: into the community, and that is very salent. It's a 186 00:12:43,507 --> 00:12:47,307 Speaker 2: salient point. I feel also as though R three sixty 187 00:12:47,347 --> 00:12:52,547 Speaker 2: would have more chance of tempting players across if they 188 00:12:52,547 --> 00:12:56,187 Speaker 2: were launching in twenty twenty eight, the year after a 189 00:12:56,227 --> 00:12:59,667 Speaker 2: World Cup, when we always see an exodus of players, 190 00:12:59,747 --> 00:13:02,587 Speaker 2: usually to places like Japan that tends to be the 191 00:13:03,387 --> 00:13:07,787 Speaker 2: most common destination for those finishing their international career. I 192 00:13:07,827 --> 00:13:10,147 Speaker 2: feel as though that would be a more logical time 193 00:13:11,107 --> 00:13:14,467 Speaker 2: for them to launch. And then you ask yourself, which 194 00:13:14,507 --> 00:13:17,867 Speaker 2: sorts of players would look at our three P sixty 195 00:13:17,907 --> 00:13:21,547 Speaker 2: as an option. It would be most attractive, wouldn't it 196 00:13:21,547 --> 00:13:24,267 Speaker 2: to a player who's coming to the end of their 197 00:13:24,307 --> 00:13:26,627 Speaker 2: All Blacks career, who's been to a World Cup or 198 00:13:26,707 --> 00:13:31,107 Speaker 2: World Cup's plural and as looking for that last contract 199 00:13:31,227 --> 00:13:33,747 Speaker 2: or two before they retire and move on to the 200 00:13:33,747 --> 00:13:35,787 Speaker 2: next stage of their life. The sorts of players, as 201 00:13:35,787 --> 00:13:37,627 Speaker 2: I say, who right now look to finish their careers 202 00:13:37,667 --> 00:13:40,507 Speaker 2: up in Japan. There are any number of former All 203 00:13:40,547 --> 00:13:43,587 Speaker 2: Blacks up there right now, Sam Kaine, T J. Pettanatta, 204 00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:45,707 Speaker 2: Aaron Smith's up there, Brady Retallic, to name a few. 205 00:13:46,507 --> 00:13:48,507 Speaker 2: If our three sixty gets off the ground, I feel 206 00:13:48,507 --> 00:13:51,707 Speaker 2: like it's the Japanese clubs who should be more worried 207 00:13:52,747 --> 00:13:55,427 Speaker 2: because they will have genuine competition for the players who 208 00:13:55,547 --> 00:14:01,387 Speaker 2: right now see Japan as their final rugby destination. So 209 00:14:01,427 --> 00:14:03,107 Speaker 2: then you look at the current crop of all Blacks 210 00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:07,427 Speaker 2: and who might have their head turned by this, And 211 00:14:07,427 --> 00:14:08,947 Speaker 2: it's guys, as I say, I've had very good all 212 00:14:08,947 --> 00:14:11,067 Speaker 2: black's careers, have been to a World Cup or two, 213 00:14:11,467 --> 00:14:14,747 Speaker 2: but who are not now first choice in their position, 214 00:14:15,107 --> 00:14:17,867 Speaker 2: and who may or may not go to the next 215 00:14:18,787 --> 00:14:22,067 Speaker 2: Rugby World Cup. If I'm R three sixty, those are 216 00:14:22,107 --> 00:14:24,707 Speaker 2: the types of guys I'm getting in touch with. I'd 217 00:14:24,747 --> 00:14:29,067 Speaker 2: be on the phone straight away to Severes. He's only contracted, incidentally, 218 00:14:29,107 --> 00:14:31,147 Speaker 2: until the end of twenty twenty six, not twenty seven. 219 00:14:32,387 --> 00:14:35,587 Speaker 2: Ricco Yowani might be an option. Dalton Papolli he might 220 00:14:35,587 --> 00:14:38,587 Speaker 2: be an option. Both contracted until twenty twenty seven, but 221 00:14:38,627 --> 00:14:41,507 Speaker 2: we know that these things can be gotten out off. 222 00:14:41,787 --> 00:14:45,227 Speaker 2: Anton Lennard Brown might be an option. He's contracted until 223 00:14:45,227 --> 00:14:47,747 Speaker 2: the end of twenty twenty eight. But again we're talking 224 00:14:47,787 --> 00:14:52,987 Speaker 2: about older players. Unless R three sixty are able to 225 00:14:53,107 --> 00:14:58,147 Speaker 2: tempt an elite young player into the fold, a first 226 00:14:58,267 --> 00:15:00,867 Speaker 2: choice all black who's nearer the start of their career 227 00:15:00,907 --> 00:15:03,467 Speaker 2: than the end, then I'm not sure too much has 228 00:15:03,507 --> 00:15:06,187 Speaker 2: really changed, and I don't think there's any need for 229 00:15:06,187 --> 00:15:13,467 Speaker 2: p or even concern. If if they could tempt Camera 230 00:15:13,507 --> 00:15:20,107 Speaker 2: Reguard or Wallace Stiti or Will Jordan, then we would 231 00:15:20,107 --> 00:15:23,947 Speaker 2: have a problem, and then we'd have to have another conversation. 232 00:15:24,787 --> 00:15:27,547 Speaker 2: Of course, all of this is contingent on R three 233 00:15:27,707 --> 00:15:30,347 Speaker 2: sixty actually getting off the ground at all, and I 234 00:15:30,347 --> 00:15:33,147 Speaker 2: would love to get an update from them. I'd like 235 00:15:33,227 --> 00:15:35,747 Speaker 2: to know if this is all actually a thing or not, 236 00:15:36,947 --> 00:15:39,867 Speaker 2: and what impact has the stance from these eight unions 237 00:15:40,187 --> 00:15:42,187 Speaker 2: had on their plans. How far down the track are 238 00:15:42,227 --> 00:15:46,147 Speaker 2: they to having their competition sanctioned by World Rugby, which, 239 00:15:46,187 --> 00:15:48,347 Speaker 2: as you heard Chris Lenham say, hasn't happened yet because 240 00:15:48,387 --> 00:15:49,747 Speaker 2: without that it's just a dream, isn't it. 241 00:15:50,627 --> 00:15:50,787 Speaker 3: Now. 242 00:15:50,827 --> 00:15:54,187 Speaker 2: We've reached out several times this week to invite a 243 00:15:54,227 --> 00:15:56,427 Speaker 2: representative from R three sixty onto the show. It feels 244 00:15:56,467 --> 00:15:59,547 Speaker 2: to me like they'd want to state their case an update. 245 00:15:59,547 --> 00:16:02,107 Speaker 2: A berg sports minded New Zealand audience like this show 246 00:16:02,147 --> 00:16:04,747 Speaker 2: has on their plans and their progress, but we've had 247 00:16:04,747 --> 00:16:07,307 Speaker 2: no reply, and from what I can say, I don't 248 00:16:07,307 --> 00:16:09,667 Speaker 2: think any other New Zealand based media outlet has either. 249 00:16:10,347 --> 00:16:13,107 Speaker 2: Look the invitation to them remains open and always will. 250 00:16:13,707 --> 00:16:15,547 Speaker 2: Very keen to hear from our three sixty about this. 251 00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:18,027 Speaker 2: As I say, we've tried and we will keep trying 252 00:16:18,827 --> 00:16:19,227 Speaker 2: for more. 253 00:16:19,307 --> 00:16:22,507 Speaker 1: From Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live to News 254 00:16:22,547 --> 00:16:26,067 Speaker 1: Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow the podcast 255 00:16:26,107 --> 00:16:27,027 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio