Rugby chiefs deny fixing World Cup venue

IRISH and New Zealand rugby chiefs have rubbished claims that they fixed New Zealand's selection as the venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in return for an appearance by the All Blacks at the opening of the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

And, in a separate move last night, the International Rugby Board claimed that despite the "unfounded allegations" in the Sunday Times there would be no new vote for the destination of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

A spokesman for the IRFU said last night that while rumours of this nature "had been doing the rounds" since the selection process took place in Dublin on November 17 last, he described them as "completely without foundation."