Southern Hemisphere rugby chiefs are set to unite with Twickenham and oppose a controversial International Board document on overseas tours. The IB's international matches, tours and tournaments working party - chaired by French Federation president Bernard Lapasset - are recommending that England play only six overseas Tests against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand between 2003 and 2010.

The cycle would then be repeated, but Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive John O'Neill has described the suggested itinerary as "alarming". IB members are to debate it when they meet in Dublin on October 25th.

"The imbalance is obvious and alarming," said O'Neill, adding: "It is fair to say that the Sanzar countries (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) will look to overcome that imbalance. England are the biggest draw, and there is a danger of reducing world rugby to the lowest common denominator."