IRB seek answer to stayaway players

The International Rugby Board have pledged to set up a working party to try and find a solution to the ‘unacceptable’ loss of key players by some of the emerging nations.

South Sea Island trio Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have all been hit by the withdrawal of vital members of their squad for the forthcoming World Cup after deciding they could not afford to abandon lucrative domestic contracts for the two month duration of the competition.