Lawsuit threat to NZ as Cup host

The Asian Rugby Union has threatened legal action unless the International Rugby Board annuls its vote, giving the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand, London's Sunday Times reported yesterday.

The Asian union, of which Japan is a member, has petitioned the IRB, asking for a new vote on the grounds that the previous ballot lacked transparency because the way members of the council cast their votes was not disclosed, the newspaper said.

Before the IRB council voted in Dublin on November 17, New Zealand was given little chance of being awarded the World Cup ahead of Japan and South Africa.

Sunday Times rugby correspondent Stephen Jones wrote at the weekend that IRB chairman Syd Millar had received a fax from lawyers for the Asian union requesting that a new vote take place by March 31 "to minimise damage to the sport".

It said that unless the IRB responded by this Friday, the Asian union might take action in court under English law, "the governing law of the IRB constitution".

There were also allegations of horse-trading between Ireland, whose two votes were vital to New Zealand's cause, and the NZ Rugby Union.

"We are aware ... that the two Irish members were encouraged to vote for New Zealand by being promised the appearance of the All Blacks at the opening ceremony of the redeveloped Lansdowne Road ground," the fax said.

It also alleged that South Africa and New Zealand had made a secret pact that if either was eliminated after round one of the voting, its votes would go to the other.

This secrecy meant nobody could be certain that procedures were not "used by council members to obtain dubious benefits for themselves or their unions", or that council members carried out the mandate of their own individual union, so that "inducements could be given with impunity", the lawyers said.

But NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller last night dismissed the allegations as scurrilous.

"In a word they're nonsense, in two words they're complete nonsense, and in three words they're absolutely complete nonsense.

"There is no way that the New Zealand Rugby Union was involved in any discussions whatsoever with the Irish Rugby Union or any other rugby union about offering additional matches against the All Blacks.

"Quite frankly those claims are scurrilous and completely without foundation."

Mr Moller said that, despite the Asian union's request for a re-vote and its threatened legal action, he was utterly confident that New Zealand would be hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Noel Murphy, one of Ireland's two representatives on the IRB, also denied that the two Irish members did a deal with New Zealand in return for the All Blacks appearing at the opening ceremony at Lansdowne Road.

- NZPA