Union braces for World Cup report

By WYNNE GRAY

A planned meeting today of Super 12 chief executives has been cancelled as the Rugby Union braces itself for the report into why New Zealand lost their hosting rights for next year's World Cup.

That document, prepared by former Chief Justice Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, will be dealt with by the board in Wellington tomorrow with most inquisition likely to be about the roles of chief executive David Rutherford and chairman Murray McCaw.

The report has involved interviews with NZRFU staff, and Australian and International Rugby Board officials, and was given to the board on Sunday.

Herald inquiries suggest lobbying has started by some anticipating the board will be asked to appoint a new chairman.

There has already been other activity, with independent public relations firm Porter Novelli brought in to deal with the release of the report and any releases relating to it from tomorrow's board meeting.

Those who have seen it have apparently been asked to sign confidentiality agreements about its contents.

Trying to discover who authorised Porter Novelli's involvement was also blurred.

When John Spicer, chairman of the committee handling the Eichelbaum inquiry, was asked originally about the public relations company's involvement, he said he was not sure about it. Then yesterday an NZRFU spokesman said the steering committee had made the arrangements.

"The purpose of commissioning the Eichelbaum Report was to obtain an objective, independent review of all relevant matters," an NZRFU statement said.

"In line with maintaining the independence of the review, all advice in relation to the release of the report should also be from an independent source, and be dealt with separately from the NZRFU's day-to-day business."

The union's staff are not working on any aspect of the report.

"Porter Novelli has been instructed not to respond to the media until the board is ready to make further comment, which is expected to be within two weeks from Monday, as advised earlier. There will be no further comment."