Asian union denies it called for World Cup re-vote

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) has denied any involvement in a letter sent to the world governing body calling for a re-vote to decide the venue of the 2011 World Cup.

A report in the British newspaper The Sunday Times said the ARFU had threatened the International Rugby Board (IRB) with legal action unless it annulled the vote.

New Zealand were the surprise choices to stage the tournament after an IRB council vote on November 17 ahead of favourites Japan and South Africa.

The Sunday Times report said the ARFU wanted the re-vote because the way council members had cast their votes had not been disclosed.

However, the IRB said in a statement: "The democratically elected officials of the ARFU have informed the IRB that the letter should not have been sent as it does not represent the views of ARFU."

The IRB said there would be no re-vote and added that it took exception to any suggestion that the vote was not carried out in a proper and professional manner.

A statement from the Japan Rugby Football Union said it had had no official involvement in the letter.