IRB slam ‘RWC re-vote’ speculation

January 9, 2006

Update Re: "Asian Rugby Union threatens lawsuit over 2011 RWC hosting bid":

Scrum reports:

The International Rugby Board have reacted angrily to press reports in England that suggest a re-vote for the hosting rights for Rugby World Cup 2011 is set to take place.

New Zealand pipped Japan and South Africa in the voting process that followed a pro-longed tender process in November last year.

The vote counts were not announced but it is believed that New Zealand beat pre-vote favorite Japan by a small margin.

In a statement released in response the IRB said:

"As a result of unfounded allegations printed in an English newspaper today (Sunday January 8th), the IRB today stated that there would be no revote for the host union for Rugby World Cup 2011 and takes exception to any suggestion that the vote was not carried out in a proper and professional manner.

"The voting procedure and process was communicated to the thee tendering unions in advance of the vote on November 17, 2005. The process and procedure was approved by the Directors of Rugby World Cup Limited and the IRB Council.

"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."