International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Vernon Pugh may have reneged on a promise he made to Sports Minister Trevor Mallard that could have seen New Zealand remain as World Cup host.

Mallard wrote to Pugh last Wednesday, the day before the IRB decided to confirm Australia as sole hosts of next year's tournament, and Pugh read the letter to the council.

In it, Mallard reiterated promises Pugh apparently made when the two met in Sydney on March 13 as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) scrambled to remain in contention to help host the tournament.

Mallard's letter said Pugh identified five conditions that needed to be met for the NZRFU to retain its sub-host status.

Those conditions included top-class accommodation for VIPs, sponsors and their guests, including the use of 70-75 per cent of corporate boxes and hospitality suites at stadiums.

Previously it was believed New Zealand had to provide stadiums with completely empty boxes - an issue which proved to be a significant sticking point.

Other conditions included exclusive rights for beer and soft drinks (Heineken and Coca-Cola are sponsors), and exclusive merchandising facilities at stadiums.

There had to be exclusive catering rights at the stadiums, too, and a 500m strip around the stadiums that was clear of "ambush" signage and hospitality sites. The stadiums also had to be clean of all advertising.

It is understood the conditions outlined in Mallard's letter were much the same as the conditions Pugh gave NZRFU chairman Murray McCaw last November.

Pugh and McCaw met at the International Rugby Awards dinner in London last November after it became clear to the NZRFU that it had to provide 100 per cent clean stadiums.

The NZRFU has consistently said this was the first time it knew of such conditions and that McCaw met Pugh specifically to discuss the issue.

McCaw has since said that he finished the meeting with the impression the NZRFU had to do its best to clean its stadiums, but that Pugh would ensure a pragmatic approach was taken.

Pugh, through the collective voice of IRB press releases, has said the NZRFU had known for at least four years that the match venues needed to be 100 per cent clean.

New Zealand rugby officials have accused Pugh of a double-cross by reneging on the assurances he gave McCaw. Those spoken to said Mallard's letter confirmed a second double-cross.

In his letter, Mallard said the NZRFU had worked hard to fulfil the conditions set down by Pugh "based on our discussion in Sydney.

"The fact the New Zealand Rugby Union has been able to meet these conditions, reflects that to everyone in New Zealand, hosting 2003 Rugby World Cup games in New Zealand is more about the game itself, than profiting directly from the event," he said.

Mallard finished his letter by noting that Pugh had promised him in Sydney that he would ensure the final decision on who hosts the World Cup would be made "in the long-term interests of rugby".

"I request that you do that," Mallard wrote.

In a file note, also made public under the Official Information Act last Friday, Mallard said he had told Pugh that if the rules on hosting the World Cup precluded New Zealand from doing so, "it would, within a short period of time, exclude the vast majority of traditional rugby nations".

The NZRFU's role in the saga will be discussed at a board meeting at a secret location on Thursday. There have been calls for heads to roll over the failed bid, with McCaw, chief executive David Rutherford and IRB delegate Rob Fisher key targets.