The Australian and New Zealand Rugby Unions said yesterday they would "monitor" developments in South Africa after earlier expressing fears about the fate of the Tri-Nations southern hemisphere competition.

After announcing early yesterday that they planned a phone conference for later in the day between the three rugby bodies, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said late last night there had been no conference call.

ARU managing director John O'Neill said in a statement that the Australian and New Zealand Rugby Unions would continue dialogue with South African officials.

"The ARU can add nothing further until Thursday's meeting in South Africa," O'Neill said.

Concern over the staging of this year's Tri-Series heightened when South Africa's National Sports Council (NSC) president, Mluleki George, threatened to scrap the series unless the country's rugby chief, Louis Luyt, resigned before the organisation's May 7th deadline.

The NSC has called for the resignation of Luyt because it alleges continuing racism within his organisation. Luyt has so far ignored the calls to step down.

"If the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) executive don't step down and allow us to place an interim administration in charge of the sport, then we will ensure that the tours by Ireland, Wales and England are called off," George said.

"There will be no Tri-Nations and no Springbok tour overseas."

New Zealand Rugby Football Union chief executive David Moffett said yesterday in Wellington that he was treating George's threats seriously.

"We are taking it very seriously. We'd obviously prefer not to be in this situation. There is no doubt we have a serious situation on our hands and we're obviously going to have to do something about it," Moffett said.

"We have always taken the view it is a matter for the South African union to sort out themselves. If it is at all possible, we will leave it up to SARFU to resolve themselves."

He said Australia and New Zealand had been patient, but the deadline was fast approaching "and the stakes are being lifted."

Moffett wondered if Luyt, having worked so hard to initiate the competition, would allow it to crash.

"South Africa has obligations to not only us through the joint venture agreement that we have with them, but also obligations to News Ltd and these are fairly onerous obligations on behalf of the South African Rugby Union.

"Also we find it very difficult that Louis (Luyt), who helped put that all together would put it in jeopardy, so we don't, in fact, have any contingency plans at this point."

Moffett said there was no alternative plan involving France replacing South Africa.

He said that besides the binding contracts, France had other commitments in the Pacific Island and in Argentina.

Meanwhile, the RFU have told Saturday's cup finalists to turn off that infernal music at Twickenham. Saracens and Wasps - who, at home games, greet tries and goals by blasts from Blur and the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown - had the plug officially pulled on any such schemes yesterday when they were told that what is hip at Vicarage Road and Loftus Road is not on at HQ.

Meanwhile, Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio (shoulder) and the Saracens player-coach Francois Pienaar (hamstring) are both considering playing despite being way below full fitness.