The New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) said today they were considering legal action as they refused to accept their chances of co-hosting next year's World Cup with Australia had vanished.
Rugby union's ruling body the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced yesterday that Rugby World Cup Limited (RWC) had withdrawn their offer to the NZRFU to co-host next year's World Cup and had instead offered the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) the chance to be sole host of the 48-match tournament.
"I think we are all extremely disappointed. It's a sad day," IRB communications manager Chris Rea said in Sydney.
NZRFU chief executive David Rutherford said only the full IRB board, not the RWC arm of the board, could cancel New Zealand's co-host status and any agreement giving the ARU sole hosting rights would also need to be approved by the full IRB board.
"We're waiting to see, from a source somewhat more authoritative than Chris Rea, a response to the two issues we've raised," Rutherford said.
"Once we've got that response we'll consider it, and if we have to we'll take legal advice and if that advice says take legal action, then we will," said Rutherford.
The situation came to a head when the NZRFU met a deadline to sign the co-hosting agreement.
But New Zealand, in signing the Sub Host Union Agreement yesterday, attached conditions the IRB found unacceptable.