Kiwi fall-out over World Cup

The Australian Rugby Union said today it had withdrawn an invitation for New Zealand to co-host the 2003 Rugby World Cup after a series of disagreements.

The New Zealand RFU signed a World Cup sub host agreement, but attached a series of conditions relating to staging their domestic NPC competition at the same time. Australia may now host the event alone.

However, New Zealand officials said: "We are still sub-hosts because the only people who can take the responsibility off us are the International Rugby Board council."