Former All Black, Andy Haden, has dismissed the idea of a Pacific Islands rugby team playing in an expanded Super 12, as misguided.
The Prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia are reported as saying that they are prepared to discuss the issue when they meet at the Pacific Islands Forum in Samoa next week.
The Australian newspaper reported that Australian prime minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer both backed a Pacific Island team in the Super 12.
But Andy Haden says the idea is a bad one and is a result of both ignorance and a lack of leadership.
"The Prime Minister rushing to a test match or meddling in Pacific Island rugby future is probably indicative of a lack of knowledge of what is genuinely required in the islands and you do tend to get this when there's a lack of leadership, both in international rugby and in the respective governments as well."
Former All Black, Andy Haden
