NZRFU sure of hosting two pools

By WYNNE GRAY

After the latest round of negotiations, New Zealand remains convinced it will host two pools in the next World Cup.

With Australia on the verge of signing its host agreement for the 2003 tournament with the International Rugby Board, New Zealand remains confident of a significant role as sub-host.

NZRFU officials Murray McCaw, David Rutherford, Steve Tew and Craig Norgate made a return trip to Singapore at the weekend where they reported they had made solid progress.

Their meeting with the IRB followed one between Rugby World Cup Ltd and Australia.

"It was a chance with Vernon Pugh [IRB chairman] in that part of the world for us to get together," Rob Fisher said in his roles as IRB vice-chairman and RWC director.

"The Australians flew up and we hope the agreement will be signed off soon to be put before the IRB council meeting in Dublin next week.

"It is in the hands of the lawyers now."

Once that meeting was over, the New Zealand quartet began talks with RWC. In recent months there has been some agitation between Australia and New Zealand about financial deals for the fifth World Cup.

Last month, an NZRFU delegation travelled to Sydney seeking financial help to offset a projected loss in the 2003 arrangement. Australia offered a multi-million-dollar rescue deal, but wanted New Zealand to give up a semifinal or one pool in exchange.

But NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford was adamant yesterday that nothing major had changed after the weekend talks.

"New Zealand will host two pools, two quarter-finals, a semifinal and perhaps the playoff," he said.

"The issues have been all around revenues and costs."

Rutherford would not say whether his renewed confidence about 2003 meant venues for pool games had been changed or the draw altered.

Meanwhile, Fisher said RWC had confirmed three major sponsors out of the targeted seven.

Those would be revealed when the host agreement document was signed.

Once that was resolved Australia would pass the deal to their sub-hosts for ratification.

* Eric Rush's return is the key feature of the New Zealand sevens squad named yesterday. Fourteen players have been selected, with another still to be added to a squad who will assemble in Auckland today to begin preparations for tournaments in Dubai on November 8-9, and Durban on November 17-18.

Durban marks the start of the world sevens series after Dubai, previously part of the circuit, had its status revoked as a result of security uncertainty in the Middle East.

The New Zealand squad will disband after Durban, with a new squad for the rest of the world series to be selected from trial teams chosen after the national sevens in Palmerston North on December 1-2.

The world circuit, for which New Zealand are the defending champions, resumes at Punte del Este, Uruguay, early next year.

Although sevens regulars Jared Going and Damian Karauna were ruled out because of injury, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has still been able to assemble a powerful group which includes six players who started this year with Super 12 contracts.

"It's great to be able to start off the circuit with such a strong squad." Tietjens said the upcoming tour was crucial for several players who were pushing to be part of the team for the Commonwealth Games at Manchester next year.

"This is the only opportunity before the last couple of tournaments on the circuit that we'll get to have a look at our Super 12 players," Tietjens said.

It is the selection of Rush, who has completed a long rehabilitation after breaking his leg in January, that will capture most interest.

Rush, 36, vowed to return to the playing arena after sustaining the injury and has trained alongside the North Harbour side during the NPC as he prepared to make good on that promise.

The squad will be trimmed to a 12-player travelling party shortly before the team's departure.