Rugby heads break silence to say NZ still in the race

The recent deafening silence of New Zealand Rugby Football Union officials comes from quiet confidence that their case to sub-host next year's World Cup remains strong.

Chairman Murray McCaw and chief executive David Rutherford yesterday made muted yet positive comments about their chance of success at the International Rugby Board council meeting on April 17.

At that meeting, in Dublin, the IRB will vote on whether Australia will be sole host of the four-yearly showpiece tournament or whether it will co-host with New Zealand.

After yesterday's NZRFU annual meeting, the two officials spoke publicly on the subject for the first time in nearly three weeks.

Their no-talk policy contrasted with their previous outspoken comments about the IRB's world cup arm, Rugby World Cup Ltd, the chairman of both, Vernon Pugh, and the sub-host agreement which they refused to sign a month ago.

Mr McCaw indicated that the NZRFU had deliberately adopted a "work-behind-the-scenes" approach to prepare the strongest argument possible next week.

"I think there's a very real chance that New Zealand will continue to have a role in the Rugby World Cup," he said, scotching reports that RWCL had approved the Australian Rugby Union becoming the tournament's sole host.

"The RWCL put out a press release which simply said the [ARU] bid was acceptable. There's a big difference between acceptable and endorse."



Mr Rutherford indicated that their biggest stumbling block - providing commercially "clean" stadia and empty corporate boxes - was nearly overcome.

"Basically we are very close to full compliance," he said.

"We have made tremendous progress but there's still a lot of work for us to do in order for us to have a chance.

"I can say there has not been a stone left unturned by the NZRFU, our provinces, our venues and a whole lot of people who are working with us."

Meetings over the next 48 hours would determine which officials travelled to Ireland.

The NZRFU was still to hear whether the April 17 meeting would be its only chance to put its bid forward or if it could be initially assessed by the RWCL board this weekend.

- NZPA