NZ board asked to resign over World Cup fiasco

New Zealand RFU's board of directors have been asked to resign after the country was dropped as co-hosts of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.

The chairmen of the 27 provincial unions met in Wellington and decided that a special meeting of the NZRFU be convened on September 17 and a new board elected.

Canterbury Rugby Union chairman Mike Eagle, one of two spokesmen for the provincial representatives, said their decision to ask the board to resign was unanimous.

NZRFU chairman Rob Fisher said he would recommend to his fellow board members that they tender their resignations before September 17, adding that he would not be seeking re-election at the special meeting.

"The decision of the provincial union chairmen to call for a special meeting is a clear signal to the NZRFU board that we should stand down and hold elections for a new board," Fisher said.

"I will be recommending that course of action to my fellow board members when I speak to them in the next few days. If they accept my recommendation, which I believe they will, then we can set in train the constitutional requirements to elect a new board."

The action by the provincial unions follows what was seen as an inadequate response by the board following the Eichelbaum report into New Zealand's failure to co-host the World Cup with Australia next year.

NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw and chief executive David Rutherford both resigned last week after they were heavily criticised in the report.

New Zealand were removed as co-hosts in mid-April when the International Rugby Board gave Australia the sole rights to stage the 48-match, 20-team tournament in October and November of 2003.

Under an initial agreement, New Zealand were expected to host 23 matches, including a semi-final, with the opening match and final hosted by Australia.

But the NZRFU refused to sign off on the co-host agreement in March, saying it could not deliver on tournament demands to provide stadia that were free of advertising and comply with corporate seating entitlements.