Jones–Hughes poised to sign for Munster

JASON JONES-HUGHES may still want to play for Wales, but he is expected to sign for Munster this week.

The player, who arrived in Wales amidst a storm four years ago is reported to have agreed terms with the province and is ready to sign, possibly as early as today.

His agent admitted last night that "everything appears to be in order and he really wants to play for a top-class side like Munster."

Jones-Hughes, 25, is now a free agent after being deemed surplus to requirements by Mike Ruddock, coach of the new Gwent region.

"It is almost certain that I will be leaving Wales as the offers I'm considering are all from outside the country," he said.

"I still have ambitions to play for Wales but the most important thing for me now is to play regular rugby for a good team."

Jones-Hughes joined Newport in a blaze of controversy just before the 1999 World Cup following a tug o' war between the Welsh Rugby Union and their Australian counterparts over one of the most promising prospects in the Super 12 at the time.

However, he leaves Wales having failed to live up to high expectation after being plagued by injuries, including knee reconstruction surgery.

Munster will be eager to secure cover in several positions with almost half of their first choice team expected to miss weeks of the Celtic League and Cup competitions during the World Cup campaign.

Having missed out on the signature of Aussie centre Daniel Herbert, Munster are in the market for a powerful midfield player.

"Jason would probably fit into the set-up, but there are a lot of things to happen yet," said Munster coach Alan Gaffney.

Munster were in their training camp by the sea at Inchydoney, Co Cork yesterday.

Meanwhile, New Zealand rugby officials and the All Blacks have agreed an eleventh-hour compromise to an acrimonious dispute over World Cup bonus payments.

An independent arbitration panel has ruled that the players should each receive 80,000 dollars (€40,000) if the All Blacks lift the Webb Ellis Cup in November in Australia.

The players union had been demanding 120,000 dollars per man while the NZRU had previously insisted it could only afford to pay a bonus of 50,000 dollars.

The agreement comes just one day before the July 31 deadline for the NZRU to submit a participation agreement for the World Cup containing the signatures of 50 players to the International Rugby Board.

The agreement gives the All Blacks, basking in the glow of back-to-back demolitions of World Cup rivals South Africa and Australia, a sliding scale of payments depending on their progress in the tournament.

For first round pool victories each New Zealand player will receive 2,000 dollars, for a quarter final win 13,000 dollars, a semi-final win 15,000 dollars and for lifting the trophy 50,000 dollars.