Andrew calls into question future of summer tours

ROB ANDREW called into question the future of summer tours in the year of a World Cup after England yesterday named a squad missing a staggering 41 players for the two-Test trip to South Africa.

The issue of Test matches being devalued by weakened teams has been on the IRB’s agenda since at least last year and it will be discussed again at today’s executive committee meeting in Dublin.

The problem is more acute this year because of the World Cup taking place in September, which squeezes the end of this season and the start of next.