Uncertain future

Australia in dark over Rugby World Cup co-hosting deal

SYDNEY (Reuters) -- The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) says its plan to cohost the World Cup with New Zealand faces an uncertain future, prompting speculation that all next year's matches would be played in Australia.

"The ARU received nothing at the close of business and is communicating overnight with the IRB (International Rugby Board)," an ARU spokesman said Tuesday.

"We're also trying to contact the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) but at this stage we don't know what they are intending or what the IRB is intending."

The NZRFU are in dispute with the IRB over the timing of New Zealand's domestic provincial championship -- a vast revenue earner for the union -- which will overlap with the early part of the World Cup.

Rugby World Cup organizers have suggested a compromise that would allow the domestic semifinals and final to be played during the World Cup --- an overlap of 10 days -- as long as the matches were not played at World Cup venues.

World Cup launch

The 2003 World Cup to be held in 18 months is due to be launched at a function in Sydney next week.

NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford had told New Zealand radio Monday: "I can't categorically guarantee you we will hold the World Cup at this stage."

The ARU spokesman said Australia, who are defending champions, could host the entire 2003 World Cup, but that was not the ARU's objective.

Last week IRB spokesman Chris Rea said no deadline had been set for New Zealand to decide but said that organizers would like to know as soon as possible.

An Australian Associated Press report quoted Rutherford as saying Tuesday the NZRFU were holding discussions with the IRB.

"We just have to sort out the IRB's proposed compromise on the NPC (domestic provincial championship) where they've said that they will accept it overlapping by 10 days," Rutherford said.

"We need to make sure that the venues that are proposed are suitable, and that's a process that's underway right now."

New Zealand was expected to stage 23 of the 48 games next year, including one semifinal.

 

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