All Blacks put ban on partners

New Zealand rugby chiefs have banned the All Blacks' wives and girlfriends from the players' hotel rooms at the World Cup.

Under an agreement between the players and All Blacks management, the "wags" will be allowed to stay in the same hotel as their partners - but not to cohabit. All Blacks manager Darren Shand told the Christchurch Press, "Every player is different in how they prepare. It's pretty common knowledge most sporting teams at home do the best, so we try to create an environment like that when we are away. It's up to individuals to make the best decisions; we have to trust them."

Despite the ban, All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter is hoping his partner, the hockey international Honor Dillon, will join him in France. He said, "Hopefully, she'll be there for the final week, anyway . . . Being among these guys, as much as I love them, it's always good to get out of the hotel away from them every now and then."

Leeds Carnegie have signed the 22st 12lb prop Fosi Pala'amo. The prop played for Leinster last season and was part of the Samoa squad for the Pacific Nations Cup in the summer.