NZRFU takes dim view of Baabaas idea

The New Zealand Rugby Union is unlikely to release contracted players to participate in a proposed end-of-year clash between England and New Zealand selections at Twickenham.

A December match between an England XV and the New Zealand Barbarians - mooted to generate up to £3 million ($8.5 million) in ticket sales alone - would replace the English Rugby Union's lucrative autumn series of tests which are not being played because of the World Cup.

An RFU statement yesterday said they had been approached by the New Zealand Barbarians, an Auckland-based club, and preliminary discussions had taken place.

NZRFU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said nothing formal was in place but had been informed of the proposal by the Barbarians.

The match would fall during the compulsory rest period set aside for all of the NZRFU's 150 contracted players, meaning the union would be loathe to release them for it.

"If they are New Zealand contracted players, and therefore preparing for the 2004 Super 12, then there would be some issues to work through," Tew said.

"I guess you could put together a team of non-contracted players that are playing offshore."

Any match that went ahead would not be classified as a test and, as it would not be on the International Rugby Board schedule, private commercial arrangements could be made for the players.

Tew said the Rugby Union had a good relationship with the New Zealand Barbarians, describing the club as "part of the rugby community".

Last year a Barbarians team featuring a number of fringe All Blacks beat the New Zealand Maori at North Harbour Stadium.

* Australia's special forces will be on hand and may be called out if a terrorist incident occurs during the World Cup, Defence Minister Robert Hill said yesterday.

Tactical Assault Groups based in Sydney and Perth would be on standby, along with the Incident Response Regiment in Sydney and the Army's 5 Aviation Regiment in Townsville, Queensland.

The tournament is the biggest sporting event to be hosted in Australia since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Organisers have said they regard the event as "low-risk" from a security standpoint, but are preparing for "medium-risk" on the basis that too much security is better than too little.

"While there is no known specific threat of terrorism against the Rugby World Cup, Defence's counter-terrorism units are well prepared and positioned to assist police with highly trained, well-equipped and capable forces should the need arise," Hill said.

These Australian Defence Force personnel could be called out if police and emergency services were unable to deal with an incident on their own, he said.

"These highly trained ADF personnel may be called on to help with bomb searches of venues."

- AGENCIES