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."

He added: "deals are not done on the Rugby World Cup. To suggest as much is just ridiculous."

This position was last night endorsed by NZRU chief executive Chris Moller who described the allegations "as nonsense and scurrilous."

Moller said: "In terms of the accusations in the article in the Sunday Times, in a word they're nonsense; in two words they're complete nonsense; and, in three words they're absolutely complete nonsense.

"There is no way the New Zealand Rugby Union was involved in any discussions whatsoever with the Irish Rugby Union or any other rugby union about offering additional matches against the All Blacks. Quite frankly those claims are scurrilous and completely without foundation."

The IRB said it took exception to any suggestion that the vote was not carried out in a proper and professional manner.

In a statement issued last night the Board stated that: "The voting procedure and process was communicated to the thee tendering unions in advance of the vote. The vote itself was verified by independent auditors from Price Waterhouse Coopers who informed the IRB on the day, as reported to Council at the time, that the vote took place correctly and professionally.

"A letter containing various unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations has been sent to the IRB from an English firm of solicitors purporting to act on behalf of the Asian Rugby Football Union (the Asian Regional Association of the IRB) and was printed in part in an English newspaper.

"The democratically elected officials of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) have informed the IRB that the letter should not have been sent as it does not represent the views of ARFU and that the person who it seems engaged the solicitors did not have the constitutional authority to do so.

"The Secretary General of ARFU has written to the solicitors stating that they must cease and desist purporting to act for and on behalf of the Asian Rugby Football Union."

Yesterday's Sunday Times also quoted Irish rugby officials as denying claims that they were encouraged to vote for New Zealand as the host of the 2011 World Cup in return for the All Blacks playing at Lansdowne Road.

Noel Murphy, one of the two Irish members on the IRB council, denied that he or Peter Boyle did a deal with New Zealand.

"There is no truth at all in that, none whatsoever," he said.

"It was never discussed one iota whatsoever about fixtures or anything like that with the New Zealand Rugby Union."