 France, who win the 2005 European Nations Cup, are a rising force |
European Nations Cup champions France look like being granted their wish of competing in an expanded Tri-Nations. Rugby Football League chief Richard Lewis unveiled plans on Friday to include the French in the 2009 event.
There will also be another change to the tournament that year, with England taking the place of Great Britain.
The Lions will compete in the 2006 Tri-Nations, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, but will only come together for overseas tours after that.
A Lions tour of Australia is planned for 2010 while England will take on the New Zealand tourists in 2007.
The next World Cup will be staged in Australia in 2008 and will include 10 teams.
Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea are expected to receive direct entry but other nations are likely to have to qualify.
The Super League season will also be put back by at least six weeks to accommodate the tournament, which is scheduled for March.
Britain looks the likely venue for a World Cup in 2012 or 2013.
The latest proposals are all part of a move to revitalise the international game and build on the success of the last two Tri-Nations Series and the European Nations Cup.
Lewis, who is also vice-chairman of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF), said plans had been put in place for the next eight years.
"Our road map for the international game is very clear," he said. "We know what we want to achieve, it's a question of delivering it."
Meanwhile, the RFL insist the 2005 Tri-Nations Series still made a profit despite Great Britain's failure to reach the final.
"Clearly it will not be anything like last year but it exceeded our budget expenditure," said RFL operations director Nigel Wood. "It will definitely make a profit."
MMIX
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