British rugby clubs say they may veto the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) plan to mark the opening of the new south stand at Twickenham next November by playing the All Blacks.
The RFU is expected to announce today that England will be playing the All Blacks on Sunday November 5,
the first of four internationals that month, but under International Rugby Board regulations, the clubs are not obliged to release any of their players for the fixture.
The clubs' Premier Rugby organisation last week turned down the offer of financial compensation to make their players available, believed to be worth around £200,000 ($600,000) even though the game is expected to make the RFU a £6 million profit, and yesterday accused the union of being precipitate.
"We have submitted proposals to the RFU about how an extra international could be accommodated and we are due to present them to the union's full council at the end of the month," Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty told The Guardian newspaper in London.
"I cannot see why they are making this announcement now," he said.
"People considering buying tickets for the match should beware that the clubs are not obliged to release any of their players to England for it and they will not unless our plans to give the clubs a greater say in the competitions they play in are accepted."
- NZPA
