Kangaroos and Kiwis threaten to boycott 4Nations

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Alcohol row leaves Australia and New Zealand considering Four Nations boycott

Australia have thrown the preparations for this autumn's Four Nations series into further confusion by threatening to refuse to play their scheduled Test in France because of the country's ban on alcohol advertising. The Kangaroos are sponsored by Victoria Bitter and Geoff Carr, the chief executive of the Australian Rugby League, said: "We have a contract with VB which we take very seriously and have every intention of honouring. I don't know how this is going to be resolved."

The latest edition of the Australian magazine Rugby League Week claims both Australia and New Zealand, who are sponsored by the Lion Red beer brand, are considering a boycott of their Four Nations games in France which are scheduled for the first two weekends in November ? although venues have still to be finalised.

A Rugby Football League spokesman confirmed today that they are aware of the problem, which has a certain irony given the avalanche of alcohol-related bad publicity that has recently undermined the game in Australia and complicated the global search for a title sponsor for the Four Nations series.

The RFL has denied reports that Coca-Cola pulled out of a possible deal and remains confident of securing a new sponsor following Gillette's decision to withdraw its support for the tournament and concentrate on its backing of the England team ? currently in France ahead of a one-off Test in Paris next Saturday.

The last scheduled meeting of the game's International Federation was cancelled partly because the chairman, David Gallop, has so much on his plate dealing with the Australian game's off-field crises in his major role as chief executive of the National Rugby League.

http://www.guardian.co.uk

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Well this is crap. Just what the 4Nations and international league needs. More circus. Last time it was the RFL releasing a draw that was ratified by the RLIF.

I'm no union or soccer fan but I am aware of this law in France and also how many teams/companies deal with it.

Welsh rugby sponsor SA Brain to side-step French alcohol ad laws again
Feb 2009



LONDON - Welsh rugby shirt sponsor SA Brain will once again evade a ban on alcohol branding at sports events in France when the team travel to Paris next month by replacing its traditional logo with the words 'Try Essai'.

Essai translates as 'try' in French, but spoken aloud it is intended to be mistaken for an invitation to ‘try' Welsh beer brand 'SA'.

When the current RBS 6 Nations champions played France in Paris in 2005 the brewer switched ‘Brain' for ‘Brawn' on the side's shirts, while in 2007 the kit read ‘Brawn Again'.

Heineken leverages its title sponsorship of the European Rugby Cup in France by referring to it as the 'H Cup'.

http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/

Surely this isn't rocket science? We can't jeopardise international rugby league, the fledgling 4Nations, the introduction of France and the post World Cup era.

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Seems the ARL has come around... and VB has agreed to let them play in France (1 game mind you.) in cleanskin jersey. Commonsense prevails!

Really disappointed to read about this needless drama.

Still looking forward to the 4Nations.

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Seems the ARL has come around... and VB has agreed to let them play in France (1 game mind you.) in cleanskin jersey. Commonsense prevails!

Really disappointed to read about this needless drama.

Still looking forward to the 4Nations.

i would assume that there would be a few article about this.....purely to make VB look good...... and not like a.....whats the word?.......Channel 9