O'Neill welcomes visit down under by Vernon Pugh
by Huw Turner
January 17, 2001

The trans-Tasman tiff regarding the hosting of the 2003 World Cup has taken another turn today with news of the IRB chairman's trouble-shooting mission.

The row started after the Australian government's decision to deny the Fijian sevens' squad visas to enter the country to participate in February's Brisbane round of the World Sevens series.This led to the cancellation of the event and the expression of public concerns by NZRFU Chairman Murray McCaw about the feasibility of the joint-hosting with Australia of the 2003 World Cup if the Australian government were to adopt a similar stance.

This in turn brought howls of protest from the Australian Rugby Union's CEO John O'Neill, accusing the New Zealanders of creating unnecessary and opportunistic speculation , in the interests of pursuing their wish to host the World Cup on their own.

Today O'Neill announced that the ARU has received word that IRB Chairman Vernon Pugh will be travelling down under to help calm frayed nerves and apply some much needed diplomatic balm.Conveniently, he was travelling to New Zealand for the Wellington Sevens and will include a stopover in Canberra.
O'Neill said, ' Vernon Pugh will be travelling here and wants to meet with our government and we will join those meetings.We're just as keen to receive assurances from the Australian government as soon as possible.'

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