International Rugby Board officials say a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRFU) official leaked a draft World Cup draw to the media, causing further damage to the tournament.

IRB media manager Chris Rea was sure he knew where the leak came from, but said there was little the Dublin-based international body could do.

If the IRB allegations were proven, it could bring sanctions against New Zealand, The Times newspaper said on Tuesday.

Leaks of confidential details of the 2003 tournament as infighting between co-hosts Australia and New Zealand raged were proving damaging, he said.

He called for the NZRFU to investigate the leak.

"New Zealand I would hope will take this forward and have an investigation," Rea told NZPA today, saying he was expressing a personal view.

"We are very certain it is a source from the New Zealand Rugby Union."

Though it did not know the individual responsible, the IRB would express discontent to the NZRFU with what had happened. "We've got to," Rea said.

"We have been totally unhinged by leaks which for one reason or another are bringing, not only the game, but Rugby World Cup into disrepute," he said. "This is hugely damaging."

Under the draft, which the IRB dismissed as "mere speculation" money spinning drawcards South Africa and England will play in a pool based in Perth.

New Zealand were reportedly upset with the seedings, saying Wales had been placed above England in a move that ignored current form.

While the original joint bid document specified that New Zealand and Australia would each host a semifinal, Australia now wanted both of those games.

Rea said he felt the time had come to invoke a penalty clause. If the unions responsible could not get to the bottom of leaks then "collectively they've got to take responsibility for it."

The NZRFU could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Australian newspaper reports in August claimed New Zealand would be based in Christchurch and head up one of the two pools in the country while France, runners-up in 1999, will be the top seed in the other group based in Wellington.

The All Blacks and France would be drawn to play a semifinal in Wellington.

The Weekend Australian newspaper said French and South African sources had also revealed defending champions Australia have been drawn to play either South Africa or England in the other semifinal.

There was no mention of a New Zealand source.

Two preliminary pools will also be held across the Tasman pitting South Africa and England in the same five-team pool.

The newspaper also said that South Africa and England will play their preliminary games at Subiaco Oval in Perth, Western Australia.

The Wallabies would lead the other pool in Australia, possibly in Sydney. - Sapa-NZPA