Rugby: Australia going to law for more pie

By Wynne Gray

In a battle before Saturday's main event, the Australian Rugby Union has told Sanzar partners New Zealand and South Africa it will go to arbitration to get a better slice of the Super 12 and Tri-Nations funding.

Under the arrangement with backers News Corp, the three partners get financial boosts in each of the 10 years of their deal. But Australia has always kicked up about their funding percentage.

South Africa gets an annual 38 per cent, New Zealand 34.5 per cent and Australia 27.5 per cent of this year's $US48m pool.

The deal is worth $US52m next year and if Australia gets the equal third share it argues it is entitled to, its stake would increase by about US$3m.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill told a weekend Sanzar meeting in Brisbane that under the joint venture, any disagreements had to be settled by arbitration. Australia intended pursuing that judgment later this year.

A moratorium on team changes meant the 12 teams would stay until at least 2001 while Sanzar agreed it should consider trialing video referees in next season's competition.