WORLD CUP:South Africa will not abandon their bid to host either the 2015 or 2019 World Cup, despite failing to win the recommendation of the Rugby World Cup Limited board.
“We have not given up,” Mark Alexander, deputy president of the South African union and chairman of the bid committee, said yesterday.
England (2015) and Japan (2019) were named as the boards preferred hosts for the next two tournaments. The decision rests with the council of the International Rugby Board, who meet in Dublin on July 28th to finalise the choice.
NEW ZEALAND:The injury-ravaged All Blacks have suffered another blow ahead of their Tri-Nations title defence, with lock Ali Williams ruled out for the season with an Achilles injury. Williams joins centre Richard Kahui, who suffered a shoulder injury in training last month, on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Outhalf Daniel Carter is also not expected back until their end of season tour in November after he ruptured his achilles while playing for Perpignan.
BLEDISLOE CUP:The fourth Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and the All Blacks in Tokyo could reap the New Zealand Rugby Union between NZ$2-$4 million (up to €1.8 million), chief executive Steve Tew said yesterday. The rivals are scheduled to play three Bledisloe Cup matches as part of the Tri-Nations but added an extra game in Japan on October 31st to raise revenue.
