Odds are stacked against minnows

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has admitted the World Cup draw was unfairly stacked against poorer countries so tournament organisers could maximise their profits.

IRB chairman Syd Millar accepted yesterday that the richer nations were given more time to play their games because of commercial arrangements with broadcasters.

"Yes (it's unfair), but that's the way it is," Millar said. "We try to give as much rest as possible and try to look at the travelling arrangements and so on but there's also another factor that we have to generate money for rugby and of course TV requires top matches at certain times and we have to be aware of that."