All Blacks are right to boycott 2015 RWC

I still think all these comittee men North and South couldn't find the word classy in the dictionary even if you gave them the letters C L A S S and then Y. I agree on the whole double standards, England cheating, powerful bodies like the IRB going unpoliced issues. I think to do it in the way that Tew has done it is low class: that's my opinion. Problem is that it doesn't matter how much money the IRB gives to the 'minnows' if noone actually wants to produce big changes they won't happen. Global rugby needs a bunch of Che Guevara types signed up to the cause not a bunch of 'Buggins' turn' comittee men and apparatchiks. Let's not forget the influence of Murdoch and the TV deals. They want to promote rugby as a massive growth sport based on the assumption that the same 8 countries play each other home and away every year and then 3 or possibly 4 teams realistically contest the world cup every 4 years. that way they can Control it and Predict it and not have to worry about their revenues. But to expand and or improve things you have to take risks (Martin Johnson / jonny Wilkinson pay attention) not force yourslef into a blind alley of your own choosing where you can't turn back without risking being even more vulnerable than when you started out. Sanzar are partly to blame for not finding (or even considering) room for Polynesian teams in Super rugby's expansion and how long Argentina have had to wait. The international fixture list is overcrowded and incestuous but to rectify that would mean the money streams currently in motion could dry up which the unions and TV wouldn't risk. Noone wants to go into unknown territory and why would they? Why would NZ Scotland SA England risk the prospect of a more spread out fixture list in which they could eventually start losing to Tonga Georgia Samoa on a regular basis? THE GAME WOULD PROSPER ACROSS THE GLOBE but how would that benefit those who have the system all stitched up already? That's why I'm critical of Tew, the RFU et al. They don't mind being complicit in a partial and unequal system so long as they're benefiting. The minute the inequality affects them or its them that are caught cheating they act like some prima donna rapper or soccer player, they refuse to acknowledge that they've done anything wrong and/or threaten boycotts etc. By all means make the changes that need changing if what Sanzar want is more just. I just wonder if any of the top 8 or 10 unions: A) Really want to tackle inequality across the game? B) Really want a global level playing field for all with the loss of priveleged status that could entail?

The lack of money in New Zealand is of their own making due to their tour round the country schedule rather than having a decent sized stadium in Auckland. And the money the IRB makes doesn't go to keeping them in Luxury, it goes to the smaller nations to grow the game. Reduce the amount of money the IRB make from the world cup and you are taking money from namibia et all. And as people have pointed out, the Northern Hemisphere have the same problem when the World Cup is held in the NH. It messes their schedules up. This guy puts it a lot less subtly... http://brackenworld.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-win-rugby-friends-and-influence.html

"WHY DOES BIG BROHER HATE US SO?" I have finally arrived at the conclusion that the bitterness that runs through English rugby is the result of repeatedly getting their arses handed to them by unions with far fewer players and far less money. Such an indictment on their ability at the game is more than they can bear good naturedly and fuels their repetitive vitriol. There's nothing they'd like more than to see SANZAR unions financially crippled to the point they cannot keep the players they develop. Beware Samoa, if all this development leads you to rub shoulders with England in the IRB rankings you too will be required to fund worldwide development of the game without regard for your actual financial ability to do so.

1) It's not just NZ. Australia at least are in exactly the same position, sorry worse to the tune of at least $16 million. One would guess the Boks are too. 2) Negotiations behind closed doors have failed for 8 years or more and I think you'll find it is the rich and powerful Northerners who do not want to lose a slice of their pie. If they're profiting $240+ Million from NZ's hosting of the RWC, imagine how much they'll take in Old Blighty 2015. At least twice that would be my guess. Wonder where it goes? Has anyone noticed that the sides to show demonstrable improvement have actually been countries with resources and closer ties to England? Why have the once Pacific Island nations stagnated? Why do idiots like Stephen Jones and Mark Reason and Brian Moore blame Sanzar for this? 3) NZ is unlikley to host a RWC again so Tew's timing is perfect and I believe orchestrated by SANZAR to achieve a platform given ongoing frustrations. 4) If (sorry, WHEN) NZ win the RWC (or even the Wallabies or Boks) it strengthens our position and argument. These 3 teams are some of the primary drawcards of this quaddrennial event and the AB's are arguably the biggest earning "brand" in the game. There is no RWC with these three absent. 5) To give you an idea of the IRB's hypocrisy: Rob Nichol of the International Player's Association has confirmed that the IRB threatened to lock players out if they did not ratify IRB agreements individually depsite protests from leading players. 2 Coaches from England along with Johnny W cheat during a game ejecting one ball and replacing it with another to enhace Johnny W's chances of success. The coaches are banned for a game or two and Johnny escapes unscathed? Yet, Tuilagi from Samoa wears a non IRB compliant mouthguard, yes a mouthguard, and is fined $10000??!!!! WTF??!!! BOTH coaches should have been ejected from the Tournament and Johnny W should be the one missing the next 2 games, at least! 6) Tew has advised the current financial model is flawed and untenable for EVERYONE people, and he is RIGHT! How does the $240 million+ get dispersed? Churchill Cup is all I hear. Blah, blah. The AB hating fool Jones EVEN says they may look to exploit a new wealthy resourceful market in Spain given AB's boycott? Who's interests are best served by this I wonder? WHY DOES BIG BROHER HATE US SO?

To quote the starey one from Miami Vice "they are wrong, SOMEHOW they are wrong..." This is all low class and just like the sordid goings on in the RFU and the SRU before. The rugby fraternity like to pretend they are the guardians of fair play, decency and camaraderie but actions like this shows that wholesome self image for the sham it is. How much worse would people be carrying on if the sums available in soccer and baseball were at stake? I love rugby but I'm under no illusions about the kind of self mythologising that deludes our global sporting community. How is it that Scotland is still in with a chance at the quarters when we are manifestly rubbish. Doesn't matter how good we are at soccer: we can't get above the bottom rung. The host union threatening to boycott the next event mid-tournament over money? Pfffft. If the top unions really cared about the fairness of the global game Argentina would have already joined the Tri nations, Japan would be hosting this world cup,the south sea islanders would have some kind of franchise in the super 14, Samoa would have been helped to be a power in world rugby, the 'minnows' wouldn't be called minnows anymore and they damn sure wouldn't be facing 3 day turn arounds.

Speaking of which, I just think its bad the way all 8 of the old countries try and ring fence the goodies for themselves and act so badly when things get tricky. The difficulties faced by Argentina are a good example of this.

Argentina of course = ).

If Tew really does want every union in the world cup to be better compensated for revenue lost during the world cup then why would most unions not agree with this? Surely it's in the majority interest to do this. This isn't the case so there must be good reasons why this hasn't happened. I want to know what they are. There aren't enough facts to judge this argument on one way or another. The IRB funds the Churchill cup and many unions, competitions and programs around the world. They use much of the money from the world cup for this. Coaches, facilities, training, accommodation and board during competitions. The countries where rugby is an established, professional sport get less. You could check out their website and the tv clips. How much more money does Tew want and what's to stop him wanting more the year after? If the IRB gives in to this blackmail from NZRU then what's to stop them demanding more next year, and the year after that again until the smaller unions are left with next to nothing? Sorry but that's how blackmail tends to work. If it works once people do it again, and again, and again.

Ill informed posters like yourself GragB and Jiggles are looking very stupid today, did I not state last night that the ARU were on the same page, did I also not state that this was initially tabled back in February this year. Seems yourself and others have just wanted to jump on a AB hating bandwagon and oh how silly you look today now that O'Neill has come out in support of Tews stance. One thing I do find a little intriguing is Australia actually lose more money than the ABs between 16 - 20 million opposed to the 13.2 million the ABs lose each WC. I guess an admission that your rant was illinformed is off the cards.

Good point CraigB. Maybe the All Blacks should follow your line..."Please Mr IRB can we have more of a slice of your profits? Just out of your good heart sir?" Or you can front up.....I call it being with your power.

After reading the uninformed, let-them-eat-cake twaddle being posted about this in England (by followers of the world's richest union) it beggars belief that they have no idea why everybody hates them so much. Hope the NZRFU and ARU stand strong together on this. Given a choice between watching Bledisloe or SANZAR games and a half-arsed 10-man festival called the World Cup in name only I know which one I'd be tuning into and we'd save some money to boot.

Thanks sh. I also think RF's points are well considered and made. I think Tew is a bit of a blunderer generally, but this has the feel of an orchestrated move on behalf of a wider group (eg SANZAR). It isn't great timing from the point of view of the players I guess, but they won't be complaining if their boss improves their pay and conditions, and the impact is far greater during the RWC than between. I suspect Tew et al have got sick of lack of traction with IRB (apparently have been trying to improve funding arrangemetns for at least the last two world cups) so I guess a calcuated risk on their part.

Can someone explain to me what it is the IRB does with all the money they make? Besides updating their website...

Nick Cross . Good article & some very interesting posts. Broadly I'm with Rugby Fan on this issue. I agree that the financial models of the RWC and the participating unions need to be re-evaluated. But It's most unfortunate that during a RWC that NZ is hosting, their RU CEO makes an announcement which says that unless the rules are changed for 2015 we'll walk. Be careful what you say would be my advice...Exaggerated opinions of their own importance is quite common amongst sports administrators.

You rarely see team sponsors in regular soccer internationals. All shirts are clean of sponsorship. FIFA like the IRB have their World Cup sponsors

Thanks for the reply Craig. It is my understanding that The ARFU are also in this boat to the tune of $16million and that John O'Neill supports the actions of Steve Tew. I doubt we'll see the RWC staged in NZ again so the timing in my view is pivotal and at least will garner headlines and awareness. I mean, you and I are debating it, right? Rob Nichol of the International Rugby Players' Association has disclosed that the game's top players only signed the current RWC terms of agreement after an IRB threat of a lockout. Rob says that negotiations HAVE been going on "in private" for 8 years. They have resulted in an additional $1 million per team. Paltry and pathetic. I take your caution on board but one suspects that the Southern Hemisphere Nations are continuing to be the poor cousins of their more richer and more powerful brethren in the North. There must be point where IRB coffers are still filled but the Teams' sponsors have some exposure that negates the losses of World Cup years FOR ALL TEAMS but particularly NZ and Australia. I am firmly of the opinion that these 2 countries will be leading the way in this game for some years in the short term at least...

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/oneill-has-grim-fears-for-future-world-cups-20110928-1kxfa.html

All unions lose out on money in a World Cup year, north and south. Unions budget for this. If the IRB caves to the NZRU then it will have to compensate every union that competes in the world cup for lost revenue. Maybe they will do this but i would hate to see it happen. How much will that reduce the money that the smaller unions rely on from the IRB to stay afloat? That's who would suffer for this? Teams like the USA and Portugal. Competitions like the churhill cup could be scrapped. Also picking this time to start a war is very bad publicity for the NZRU. The blackmail tactic is also bad publicity. The world is watching.