Contrite Mallard backs off

By CATHY ARONSON and NZPA

A chastened Sports Minister Trevor Mallard was forced to say he was sorry he made crude comments about the head of the body which voted against New Zealand hosting the Rugby World Cup.

But he stopped short of apologising to International Rugby Board chairman Vernon Pugh after telling Radio Sport that one remedy for the loss of the Cup would involve inserting "Heinekens in particularly uncomfortable places".

He offered to use the cup sponsor's product on Mr Pugh, a Welsh lawyer, and Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill.

His comments brought a chorus of disapproval but Prime Minister Helen Clark said Mr Mallard was a "a red-blooded, passionate rugby supporter" expressing the disappointment of every rugby fan.

Asked if the "uncomfortable places" threat was out of line, she said: "I'm not getting into that."

She blamed Australian hostility and the international rugby board head's wounded pride for New Zealand's loss of the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand had lost "because Mr Pugh's pride and dignity seemed to be wounded and the Aussies acted in a hostile fashion to a fraternal union".

"And I don't think that's fair play. But my attitude now is, let's put it behind us and go out and win the damn cup."

New Zealand's bid fell apart last month after it refused to sign a hosting agreement, citing its inability to secure commercially "clean" venues as it would breach existing contracts with corporate boxholders.

Late on Thursday night, the IRB voted overwhelmingly to back Australia as sole host.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters attacked Mr Mallard's comments.

"It's those sorts of comments and attitudes that may in part have led to us losing the World Cup ", he said.

National leader Bill English said the comments were disgraceful from a senior Government minister.

At a press conference later, Mr Mallard, who went to Sydney to try to lobby Mr Pugh and Australian rugby officials to help keep New Zealand as a co-host, said he was sorry for his comments.

"Of course I'm sorry I made the comment. It's not a ministerial thing to do, is it? And sometimes I mix up my passion for rugby with my role as a minister of our Government and that's not always good. It's not the first time I've done it."

The comment had been made on the spur of the moment when he was "slightly tired" and also after being told that, at the IRB board meeting, Mr Pugh had selectively read parts of a letter Mr Mallard had written.

"I think it's fair to say that my blood pressure at the time was not at the point where my judgment was great."

The parts Mr Pugh omitted centred around a list of things New Zealand had to achieve and "my understanding that we had done what had been asked".

He said the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was more "naive" than the Australians in accepting Mr Pugh "at his word".

He blamed "mainly Vernon Pugh" for New Zealand being cut out of the cup.

Mr Mallard said the IRB's decision could be "quite damaging" to transtasman relations.

He believed the Government should have got involved earlier: "In fact, I think we will review our processes for further major events."

Asked whether he would travel to Australia to see the Cup, he said: "I vacillate between wanting to go and cheer the All Blacks on to victory and not wanting to make a contribution to Australian coffers."

New Zealand had lost up to $120 million by not co-hosting next year's Rugby World Cup, Mr Mallard said.

Australia had predicted a $367 million boost from international visitors during October and November next year by hosting the tournament alone.

Tourism New Zealand is already looking for ways to make money out of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Chief executive George Hickton said it had not spent any money on advertising and had not included the co-hosting in next year's tourism projections, which showed growth of 8 per cent.

"Our tourism industry will still be strong without it, but it would have been a good bonus."

Mr Hickton said that before losing the co-hosting bid, Tourism New Zealand was preparing to bring international journalists here to profile the country before the world cup.

He said Tourism New Zealand would still try to bring the journalists over for pre-Cup publicity when they went to Australia.

"We have to re-think our strategy to find some way to leverage off Australia."

It would include liaising with rugby unions, tourism centres and airlines to make attractive offers from Australia to New Zealand either before, after or during the World Cup.

He said during the Olympics, many of the tourists and journalists visited New Zealand.

"They make the most of their time Downunder and that's what we'll be saying - 'hey, we're just across the Tasman'."

The IRB statement

Full coverage: Rugby World Cup