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Dane Coles 'pissed off' at World Rugby's nonchalant attitude towards Pacific nations with proposed World League

March 8, 2019
Coles said if he gets back to playing his game for the Hurricanes, All Blacks selections later this year will sort themselves.

Dane Coles has a pretty blunt stance when it comes to any proposed World League competitions - it's not global unless it involves the Pacific.

Coles told Stuff about his frustrations with the new competition after World Rugby released their planned structure for the competition yesterday.

"It's a long way to go and a lot more planning," he said.

"You can't just have these guys at World Rugby making these decisions and not having the players' input. We need to come to some sort of medium."

The NZ Rugby Players Association boss believes the competition will hurt the integrity of the international game. (Source: Other)

When plans for the competition first surfaced last week, it was reported the Pacific Islands wouldn't be involved with Japan and the US joining the Rugby Championship instead. It was also reported there was no relegation-promotion system to give the Pacific teams a chance to crack the top tier of competition.

The Hurricanes captain said that approach will damage the game.

For more on the proposed Global League, read here:

  • All Blacks skipper Kieran Read highlights major concerns with new World League
  • Former All Blacks and Manu Samoa halfback Ofisa Tonu'u says World League needs the Pacific
  • World Rugby calls emergency meeting to address backlash of proposed global league
  • Pacific players encouraged by World Rugby's 'massive turnaround' towards proposed World League
  • World Rugby reveals planned structure for three-tier global league - with relegation and promotion
  • "The thing that got me was excluding the Pacific nation teams because especially in the Hurricanes we've had a lot of guys play for Manu Samoa and Tonga and those countries do a lot for world rugby, so them not being included in any plans was what pissed me off. 

    "Those Pacific nations deserve something, they deserve games and stuff like that."

    It's a feeling many players in New Zealand relate to including Hurricanes teammate Ardie Savea who said on Monday the competition was "shutting out our Pacific brothers" .

    The Hurricanes star is the latest to come out against the proposed concept. (Source: Other)

    "To be honest, [I'm] not a fan - plain and simple," Savea said.

    World Rugby said in a statement yesterday the Pacific's rumoured exile was incorrect and "contrary to reports, our proposed competition provides opportunities for all teams to compete at the top level on merit, with promotion and relegation".

    "Under this model, the Pacific Islands and all teams outside the current 6 Nations and The Rugby Championship would have a potential pathway," World Rugby said.

    World Rugby plans to launch the three-tier league in 2022.

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