International Rugby Board (IRB) officials were ready to take next year's World Cup to France or England before granting it to Australia, it has been reported.
In the Australiannewspaper, Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss John O'Neill said the IRB was so fed up with the public squabbling between Australia and New Zealand they were considering switching the sport's showcase event to the northern hemisphere.
Australia and New Zealand were scheduled to share the 48-match tournament, but the IRB dumped New Zealand when they refused to sign the hosting agreement due to commercial reasons. The IRB last week agreed to let Australia host the event alone.
"The RWC [Rugby World Cup] board and IRB were getting heartily sick of the friction in this part of the world, and sponsors and others (were) very sick of the bad publicity," O'Neill said.
"I am convinced that if we hadn't put our best foot forward, the tournament would have gone to the northern hemisphere".
The hosting issue has further strained the already tense relationship between the Australian and New Zealand rugby boards but O'Neill said both countries were hoping to put the matter behind them.
He said New Zealand rugby boss David Rutherford had graciously congratulated Australia for being awarded sole hosting rights and the ARU in turn would offer special ticket packages to New Zealand supporters.