Nines a threat to Sevens

[DIEHARD]

Nines a threat to sevens, says O'Neill

FORMER ARU chief executive John O'Neill has warned the spectacular success of rugby league's Auckland Nines poses a real threat to rugby sevens.

The Auckland Nines was played in front of sellout crowds at Eden Park -- the citadel of New Zealand rugby - at the weekend, proving more popular than any rugby sevens tournament in Australia.

O'Neill, a former IRB council member and current Rugby World Cup director, said the Auckland Nines should be a cause for concern to rugby administrators on both sides of the Tasman.

"I'm sure the success of the Auckland Nines has not gone unnoticed. The nines should have alarm bells ringing. It doesn't worry the rest of the world, but it is a pretty reasonable threat to Australia and New Zealand."

O'Neill said rugby should be concerned about rugby league pushing for the nine-a-side game to be admitted to the Commonwealth Games.

"Rugby union is a hugely more international and recognised sport than rugby league. That is its competitive advantage," O'Neill said.

"Rugby league will never be an Olympic sport because it doesn't have a global footprint, but it could be a Commonwealth Games sport.

"They are talking about adding nines to the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Initially as a demonstration sport, but the inference now is that it wants to go straight in as a competitive sport.

"There isn't room for both nines and sevens in the Commonwealth Games."

O'Neill said rugby union had to always remember that rugby league was the enemy.

"The competition for talent and for hearts and minds is well and truly between rugby union and rugby league," O'Neill said.

"Rugby union had a great baptism in the professional era, but now more than ever it has to play to its strengths as the No 2 football code in the world with the Rugby World Cup and sevens in the Olympic Games.

"Those competitive advantages should be front and centre and rugby union has to be ready to confront rugby league."

O'Neill said Australian rugby could take lessons from the event in Auckland.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

[TITAN PETE]

Just like in the 1800's they invented their game but a Rugby League perfected it in the 1900's

9's is far superior to any 7's comp but there will always be room for both but maybe not at a Commenwealth games..

[DIEHARD]

Hail Sezers comments about lots of people being interested in the footy in comparisons to the Sevens is promising. I hope they do a lot of research into keeping the supporters happy and returning.