NZ misses out in final vote on Rugby World Cup

By WYNNE GRAY

New Zealand last night lost its bitter fight to co-host next year's Rugby World Cup.

After an intensive six-week campaign to retrieve its co-host status, New Zealand suffered an overwhelming defeat when the International Rugby Board voted in Dublin.

"Generous accommodations made by RWCL (Rugby World Cup Ltd) to meet the needs and problems of the NZRU were repaid with consistent failures and wholly inappropriate behaviour," an IRB statement said.

The Herald understands the New Zealand Rugby Football Union made a variety of desperate pleas during the week.

In one, letters were slipped under delegates' hotel room doors hours before the vital vote.

The NZRFU also asked the IRB to consider an alternative plan for New Zealand to host one pool of the tournament-a request which meant the vote was delayed until last night.

But none of the New Zealand schemes was compelling enough for the IRB to overrule the Rugby World Cup Ltd board's recommendation that Australia host the tournament on its own.



After their victory, Australian officials promised that New Zealand fans would be able to get a large number of tickets to watch the All Blacks play their pool games.

The tournament draw will not be made for several weeks.

The All Blacks are likely to be placed at major venues in Australia's rugby-oriented eastern states when the 48-match tournament starts next October.

When the full IRB council convened on Tuesday, NZRFU delegates Rob Fisher and Tim Gresson made impassioned speeches about New Zealand's place in world rugby, their troubled World Cup journey and right to be reinstated.

After a day's adjournment caused by hints of legal restraint if their entire case was not heard, the NZRFU floated a substitute scheme that New Zealand host one pool.

On both days, apparently, the NZRFU delegates were extensively cross-examined by the council members, who they needed to persuade to gain a majority of the 21 votes.



It is understood IRB chairman Vernon Pugh refuted with documents the claim of NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw that he had reneged on a deal about "clean" stadiums.

Since IRB delegates began arriving in Dublin late last week, rumblings have persisted that New Zealand would have to pay for the criticism McCaw and chief executive David Rutherford directed at the body.

That feeling increased when the New Zealanders raised the possibility of legal restraints if they were not given the full opportunity to outline their case for reinstatement.

Against that festering backdrop, observers believe Fisher and Gresson have been distancing themselves from the actions of McCaw and Rutherford.



The simmering saga became a battle six weeks ago when the NZRFU refused to sign an agreement to be sub-host to Australia.

It could not meet conditions imposed by Rugby World Cup Ltd for "clean stadiums", which laid down the rules for advertising in stadiums and the provision of corporate hospitality space.

New Zealand was stripped of its co-host status and Australia was asked to submit a proposal as sole host.

In the fallout, Rutherford and McCaw attacked the IRB and chairman Pugh, questioning his leadership and guidance of the sport.