English union faces action

The English Rugby Football Union faces the threat of disciplinary action in Dublin today when they appear before the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Last month the IRB summoned England's rugby chiefs to "explain the present position" and proposals for resolution of the running disputes that continue to dog the domestic game.

The board were referring to Twickenham's row with the English first division rugby clubs' organisation, the EFDR, who have been banned from contact with the rest of the rugby world.

Just a week after being ordered to appear, the RFU created a peace deal with the clubs and England coach Clive Woodward was forced to name a weakened squad depleted by withdrawals for the forthcoming tour of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

But both these actions incensed board members. Australian Dick McGruther, chairman of the IRB's game regulations committee, called England's squad: "An insult, a betrayal - the biggest sell-out since Gallipoli".

He is flying all the way from Australia to appear at England's trial, having said: "Unless there is compliance with the IRB regulations, a union puts at risk its membership of the IRB."

McGruther and board chairman Vernon Pugh believe that English clubs are acting contrary to the rules in questioning the regulations through the European court.

But the clubs insist that they have a legal right to do so and that many of the board's nations do not understand European law.

Further problems arise for the RFU because England's five-man delegation is not united. One of the quintet will be RFU management board chairman Cliff Brittle, whose close ally Fran Cotton has called for England's expulsion from the IRB.

England's other delegates are RFU president Peter Brook, IRB representatives Malcolm Phillips, John Jeavons-Fellows and Graham Smith, who presented the peace plan between the RFU and the clubs a week ago.

No immediate action can be taken against England, but the threat of expulsion will probably remain.

If the threat were to be activated England would be immediately expelled from forthcoming Tests and that would also jeopardise their participation in next year's World Cup.

New Zealand will host this season's Super 12 rugby union semi-finals after champions Auckland and Canterbury locked up the top two positions in this weekend's final series of matches.

The Auckland Blues, bidding for a hat-trick of Super 12 crowns, take on fellow New Zealanders Otago Highlanders in one semi-final next weekend, while Canterbury Crusaders will host South Africa's Coastal Sharks.