Controversial rugby meeting likely

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 32

Controversial rugby meeting likely

NZPA staff correspondent London The first concerted attempt to launch a world rugby cup seems doomed to failure at the hands of the International Rugby Board which began its annual meeting behind closed doors at London's East India Club yesterday. . The official verdict on the plan of the promoters, Sports Sponsorship International (5.5.1.) to stage a 12-nation cup in England in 1985 or 1986 will be delivered today.

However, the chairman of S.S.I. Mr Neil Durden-Smith, indicated that it had little chance of getting the required three-quarters majority of the eight member nations of the board, rugby's governing body. “It’s difficult to accurately pick what the board will decide, but in principle I believe we have the support of the four overseas unions — South Africa, France, New Zealand and Australia — but not of the four British home unions,” Mr Durden-Smith said. It appears that France and South Africa will be the

keenest supporters of the plan at the 1.R.8. meeting, but the expectation of support from New Zealand and Australia may not be fulfilled.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has said it sees merit in the proposal but shared similar concerns to the British unions, while Australia sees daunting problems in South Africa’s participation.

The board will also discuss the payment of daily allowances to players on tour. It will probably increase the allowance a little from the current £6 (about SNZI3 70 cents), but to nothing like the 200 dollars a week proposed by Australia. The 1.R.8. will also again study the vexed question of reform of the penalty law. Each of the member unions has carried out its own survey over the last year in response to pressure to extend the free kick to cover areas such as off-side, killing the ball and jumping off players at the line-out. Another suggestion has been to devalue the penalty from three to two points.