Wales could hold the key to the destination of the 2007 World Cup after the Welsh Rugby Union chairman Glanmor Griffiths said yesterday that France had promised to give them a pool to stage should their bid be successful. "We have a binding agreement with France that if they win the vote we will stage the pool involving Wales," Griffiths said.
Wales hold two of the 21 votes cast by the unions who sit on the International Rugby Board and, with France probably enjoying a slight lead over England, those two votes could make all the difference. Yesterday Griffiths indicated their price for backing England would also be staging a pool.
"England are making a presentation to us next week," said Griffiths. "England are honour-bound to give us a 20 per cent share of the gate-taking profits, but our position is that the Millennium Stadium is one of the best rugby grounds in the world and it would make no sense not to use it. Back in 1999, when Wales were the World Cup hosts, England were all in favour of a multi-union tournament but they seemed to have changed their minds and we have to be convinced."
The Rugby Football Union will also be wooing Ireland next week but the chief executive of the IRFU, Phillip Browne, warned last night: "We want to hear the precise details from them. Our view is that we would prefer to see World Cup matches played in Ireland and other countries. That is important for the development of the game."
Meanwhile the French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset condemned England's plans.
France will next week reveal the details of their rival bid and Lapasset said it would be far closer to the traditional format than Twickenham's vision of a 16-team World Cup staged in parallel with a Nations Cup involving 32 emerging teams.
The Wales coach Steve Hansen has put his wings to flight and intends to field three full-backs in his side this season.
Hansen yesterday announced his 30-strong squad for next month's internationals against Romania, Canada, Fiji and New Zealand and no wings were included in it.
The three players concerned, Craig Morgan, Rhys Williams and Mark Jones, have all been capped on the wing by Wales.
WALES (squad): I Thomas (Llanelli), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), M Madden (Llanelli), R McBryde (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), V Cooper (Llanelli), G Llewellyn (Neath), S Williams (Northampton), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), C Charvis (Swansea, capt), S Quinnell (Llanelli), D Jones (Llanelli), M Owen (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bath), M Williams (Cardiff), R Parks (Pontypridd). D Peel (Llanelli), R Powell (Cardiff), S Jones (Llanelli), N Jenkins (Pontypridd), I Harris (Cardiff), S Parker (Pontypridd), T Shanklin (Saracens), A Marinos (Newport), J Robinson (Cardiff), C Morgan (Cardiff), R Williams (Cardiff), M Jones (Llanelli).
