Fresh accusations emerge over World Cup voting

More controversy surfaced today regarding the way New Zealand won the hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup, with allegations that the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) promised more tests against Argentina.

Several websites have reported the claims following a link on the Argentina rugby union (UAR) website reporting the general committee minutes on its participation on the World Cup vote.

The minutes detail a call made by the Argentina union's president-elect Alejandro Risler after the first round of voting, when Argentina had voted for the eliminated South Africa and then had to transfer its vote to either New Zealand or Japan.

"Before the voting process Alejandro Risler phoned the president (chairman) of the NZRU Jock Hobbs to tell him that Argentina would vote for New Zealand and not Japan and that the UAR needed to meet with them to discuss the possibility of having regular international competition in the southern hemisphere in the nearest future, having already obtained South African approval for Argentina's inclusion," the website says.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller said the claims were "absolutely incorrect".

"We have been accused of promising a match to Ireland for the opening of Lansdowne Road. I have refuted that as being absolutely incorrect and furthermore said that it doesn't apply to any country because we at no stage discussed additional games in respect to Rugby World Cup 2001," Moller told NZPA.

"In respect to Argentina specifically, we are scheduled to play Argentina in Argentina in the June window. That match has been in the IRB (International Rugby Board) tour schedule for about five years."

The timing of the match in June when the All Blacks would normally play at home was mutually agreed upon, Moller said.

"From what they've said it appears they voted for us and we're very appreciative of that.

"And it is true that Alejandro Risler and Jock Hobbs did have a telephone discussion and it is true that we agreed, as we're going to, have a meeting at around the (Wellington) sevens (February 3-4). At no stage however has there been any promise by New Zealand, and indeed New Zealand can't make such promises because Sanzar matters are matters for all three countries (NZ, Australia and South Africa)."

Early this week the Asian Rugby Union denied that it had written to the IRB seeking a recount of the votes.

The website linked to UAR said New Zealand won the World Cup votes 11-10.

- NZPA