Roff back home to mount World Cup bid

SYDNEY (Reuters) -- Former test winger Joe Roff is back in Australia to try and win back a place in the Wallaby team for next year's World Cup.

The 26-year-old, who has been re-signed by the ACT Brumbies for the 2003 and 2004 Super 12 series, spent last season playing in France after deciding to take break from the pressure and grind of international rugby.

During his sabbatical Roff helped Biarritz to win the French national championship but the lure of playing at next year's World Cup on home soil has brought him back home.

"I wouldn't swap the experience or the memories," Roff said. "It was much more than just the rugby ... living in another country, making new friends and immersing yourself in a new culture, it was great fun, the sort of experience that makes you appreciate rugby and everything it has to offer."

Roff, who recently married and has spent the past three months honeymooning in Greece, said his year off had helped him rediscover his hunger to play at the highest level.

"Everyone knows what's on offer in 2003 and for me it starts with the Brumbies," said Roff, who played for the Canberra-based team when they won the Super 12 tournament last year.

"Some consistent form at provincial level is my first goal."

Despite a brilliant career that has already reaped 72 test caps, Roff is no certainty to win back his place in the team.

The Australians already had a number of top quality wingers in Ben Tune, Andrew Walker and Stirling Mortlock before Roff walked out, and signed three former rugby league international wingers, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri while he was away.

"I've noticed that since I've been gone the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) has signed a few new players in my position. My view is that it's good for the game and good for Australian rugby," Roff said.

"Competition will bring out the best in all of us. I want to be part of it (the 2003 Rugby World Cup) and the only way that's going to happen is if I produce the goods for the Brumbies."

Wallabies schedule five home tests

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Ireland, Wales and England will travel to Australia for one-off test matches against the Wallabies over three consecutive weeks next year, the Australian Rugby Union announced Wednesday.

Australia has a strong home record against the three touring nations with the Wallabies holding a combined 20-4 won-loss record, including 10 wins from 10 matches against England in Australia.

The 2003 Tri Nations competition gets underway with South Africa hosting Australia in the first match in Cape Town before the Wallabies return home to host New Zealand at Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 26.

That will be followed by a match against the Springboks in Perth on Aug. 2.

Eden Park in Auckland will be the scene of the final match of the Tri Nations with the Wallabies playing the All Blacks in both team's final match prior to Rugby World Cup 2003 beginning in October, 2003.

"It's a big year but an exciting one," said Wallaby coach Eddie Jones. "We've got three of the home nations back-to-back followed by the Tri Nations which equates to seven tests against five countries and that requires good planning."

   The 2003 Wallabies domestic test schedule (excluding World Cup): 
   June 7 -- Australia vs. Ireland, Brisbane. 
   June 14 -- Australia vs. Wales, Sydney. 
   June 21 -- Australia vs. England, Melbourne.
Tri Nations Draw: 
   July 12 -- South Africa vs. Australia, Cape Town. 
   July 19 -- South Africa vs New Zealand, Pretoria. 
   July 26 -- Australia vs. New Zealand (Bledisloe Cup), Sydney. 
   Aug. 2: Australia vs. South Africa, Perth. 
   Aug. 9: New Zealand vs. South Africa, Dunedin. 
   Aug. 16: New Zealand vs Australia (Bledisloe Cup), Auckland. 

All Blacks announce 2003 schedule

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -- The All Blacks will host tests against England, Wales and France in the build-up to next year's World Cup, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union announced Wednesday.

The All Blacks, who won the inaugural World Cup in 1987 but have not lifted the trophy since, will play seven internationals as they prepare for the 2003 tournament.

Four of those matches, two against both Australia and South Africa, form part of the annual Tri-nations series, while the remaining three will be against northern hemisphere opposition.

New Zealand will open its season against England in Wellington on June 14 before facing Wales in Hamilton seven days later.

A third test, against Six Nations champions France, has been pencilled in for Christchurch on either June 28 or 29.

The date has not yet been finalized because the French are playing in South America the previous week and want an extra day off because of the long flight across the Pacific.

New Zealand's first two Tri-nations matches are away in July, against South Africa in Pretoria then Australia in Sydney, with their final two games at home in August.

They face the Springboks in Dunedin on August 9 and the Wallabies in Auckland a week later.

   New Zealand schedule for 2003:
   June 14 -- New Zealand vs. England, Wellington
   June 21 -- New Zealand vs. Wales, Hamilton
   June 28 or 29 -- New Zealand vs. France, Christchurch
   July 19 -- New Zealand  vs. South Africa, Pretoria
   July 26 -- New Zealand vs. Australia, Sydney
   August 9 -- New Zealand vs. South Africa, Dunedin
   August 16 -- New Zealand vs. Australia, Auckland

 

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