should read...I will play in super league when i'M OVER THE HILL

Pathetic!

"We have a contract with VB which we take very seriously and have every intention of honouring."

First of all it really ought to be a non issue but nothing seems to stop the Ausies from generating negative press.

Who the hell negotiated the deal with a brewery and did'nt forsee the possible issue of playing in France.

Finaly its seems from the above quote that the Ausies take their beer sponsorship rather more seriously than they do the game itself.

Exactly. I know there will be a potential TV audience in Australia, but surely C9 or Fox (whoever has the rights) can run VB ads at every scrum, as per every weekly NRL game?

Think it was Phillips that was blocked out, conflicted with gillette

It was the other way round - Aus team would not display the Gillette logo on their shirts because of the Phillip's clash.

A bigger threat to the 4 nations is the lack of an overall sponsor, as Gillette have pulled out. Not easy to get a non fags/booze/gambling sponsor in the current climate.

Chances of this getting in the way of the tournament - 0%
This is pretend hot air to generate some press.

France have come on so far in one year that Nz and Oz are both contemplating forfeiting their matches instead of looking bad in France.

When Wigan had this problem with their "Mecca Bingo" logo they turned it into a massive positive by giving away advertising to a charity. Now, Wigan are big enough to do this, how small does that make Oz?

what next their players saying they wont come over here cuz of our strict sex assault laws?

I fail to understand why this puts the whole tournament in doubt - the Aussies either dont come at all, and we have a Tri Nations; or we have a 4N and the Aussies forfeit the game in France.

Time to stop pandering to these idiots, and get on with the game.

More worrying is the bit at the bottom IMO.

"The RFL are still looking for a tournament sponsor following Gillette's decision to withdraw its support for the tournament and concentrate on its backing of the England team".

In the current economic climate, finding a decent sponsor to replace Gillette ain't going to be easy.

I dunno, showing your opposition your strong is pretty attractive.

What? Is that in English or Journospeak

The Kiwis are saying the same thing.
That will just leave the English geniuses playing the Frogs.
Not surprising all of the stupid comments that have come out from English fans on this.

Its a load of that mugs are latching onto.

Mmmmm, I seem to remember a recent spat with the NZRU that cost them their half of a supposedly co-hosted RUWC a while back...something about advertising?

Bottom line is that if Australia and their sponsor can't sort this out, then the game will have to be switched to The Stoop

Ref: Gillette concentrating on Sponsoring England:

England - 'The best that we could get'