NZ could host alone says Pugh

SYDNEY - New Zealand is still capable of holding a World Cup despite the International Rugby Board scrubbing its dual-hosting role with Australia for next year's tournament.

IRB chairman Vernon Pugh said the New Zealand Rugby Football Union had enough financial clout to hold the tournament in its own right eventually.

"When we look at the size and value of our independent unions, top of the tree in terms of annual turnover is England and France.

"A pretty close third and way ahead of any other union is New Zealand.

"It is a hugely wealthy union and what's been said about New Zealand suffering for economic reasons and because it's a small country just doesn't hold up in the light of day," Pugh said.

An inability to satisfy demands for clean stadiums scuppered New Zealand's chances of having a share of the 48-match tournament, but Pugh said the door was still open in the future.

He was reluctant to dwell on New Zealand's controversial axing as a sub-host last month, describing Monday's launch of the tournament as " Australia's day and that's something to put behind us".

However, he remained adamant that the IRB did everything within its power to ensure New Zealand maintained its sub-host status.

"We did our very best to ensure New Zealand would be part of the World Cup. Numerous concessions were made and it was our passionate desire that New Zealand would be part of it.

"We planned a launch in March with both unions involved.

"It's not a case of the international board taking anything away from New Zealand, it's a case of New Zealand refusing to accept what we offered them."

Pugh said the tournament's three sponsors, Coca-Cola, Heineken and Visa, were confirmed on Monday after the deals were re-examined in light of New Zealand's exclusion.

"There's been a change in the programme so we've been in discussions with sponsors. They [the discussions] have either been concluded or are progressing satisfactorily. There will not be a great adjustment."

And Pugh insisted the IRB would proceed with plans to hold a Northern-Southern Hemisphere match at Cardiff in November, despite opposition from Australian and New Zealand players.

He said an announcement on the respective coaches was expected in a month, but finding players for the southern side might take longer to settle.

The New Zealand and Australian players associations are cool on the idea, citing player burnout and the length of the existing international calendar for their concerns.

However, Pugh is confident the match - aimed at raising money for minor international unions - will be held at the Millennium Stadium on November 30.

He said he could not understand how the game could be detrimental to the players.

"In the Northern Hemisphere it is in the middle of the season so they will already be playing. The major southern countries are already in Europe at that time.

"We feel no one is better placed than Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to know whether the players' welfare is being looked after."

Pugh said it was a "mystery" to the IRB why the players were not excited about playing.

New Zealand are scheduled to tour England, Wales and France in November.

- NZPA