Bid to bridge gap between rugby’s rich and poor

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) is already looking at ways to make the next World Cup more competitive after a disappointing start to this tournament.

While the overall standard of international rugby continues to improve, the opening round of matches at the World Cup showed the gap between the rich and poor was expanding rather than closing. The results of the first three days followed the same old script of the game's traditional powers crushing their weaker opponents.

The IRB, facing the real prospect the rest of the pool phase will also be dominated by predictable, lopsided matches, says it needs to act to ensure the next World Cup is more competitive.