The ARU goes against club wishes with extended camp.
In a move that will anger many Australian Super Rugby clubs Fox Sports has reported that the ARU will quarantine 25 players for the Wallabies team ahead of their British and Irish Lions tour in June.
The extended camp lasting three weeks will strip clubs of their star players in a decision that is being called a protective precaution by the ARU.
When the plan was originally suggested by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans all five of the Australian teams in the Super Rugby competition opposed the strategy which would rob the clubs of their players for matches on the 7th, 8th and 9th of June.
The Reds, Brumbies and Waratahs would be the most hurt by the camp with the three teams having the highest representation of players in the Wallabies squad.
In a move to appease some of the clubs rejections of the plan new ARU chief executive Bill Pulver has suggested players could be released from the camp if teams finals hopes hang in the balance.
“If those Super Rugby matches have significant bearing on the competition standings, and finals spots are at stake, the ARU will take that under serious consideration,” Pulver said in a statement.
However returning some players may only complicate the situation further if some clubs have their players returned while other clubs are left without.
The clubs also claim losing their players would leave them weakened against the Lions when they play Super Rugby teams as part of their tour. However the ARU has made it clear that their priority is on the Wallabies beating the Lions.
“There is no doubt, from an Australian Rugby perspective, that when the Lions come to Australia … the primary objective is for the Wallabies to win the three-Test series and preparation is crucial,” Pulver said.
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