RFU facing flak over All Black clash

THE RFU have been condemned for ‘deceitful and underhand’ conduct amid escalating tensions over their efforts to arrange a match between England and the All Blacks this autumn. As revealed by Sportsmail earlier this week, the governing body are desperately trying to convince the world champions to agree to a fixture at Twickenham on November 4. It has now emerged that RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie is threatening to veto the match which New Zealand had provisionally agreed to — against the Barbarians at the same venue, on the same day. A well-placed source has revealed that Ritchie made renewed contact with his Kiwi counterpart, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew, on Thursday night. It is understood that the response from Tew was to reiterate that the NZRU’s wish is for the All Blacks to play the Barbarians, in a ceremonial fixture with profound historical resonance, to mark their 125th anniversary. However, Ritchie is believed to have countered by stating that there is a meeting of the RFU’s board next week and that, as the national governing body, they may now refuse approval for the match to take place within their jurisdiction. This stance indicates the union’s willingness to adopt ultra-aggressive negotiating tactics, in order to force the

issue. There was already unrest among leading English clubs, who were unaware of the proposed England-New Zealand fixture until

Sportsmail revealed the plans. Now it appears the Premiership sides are not alone in feeling aggrieved. Another source claimed that the Barbarians regard the RFU’s conduct as ‘deceitful and underhand’. Their gripe is seemingly based on a dispute over the chronology of this saga. The union’s official line is that they only became aware of the proposed Barbarians v All Blacks game a few weeks ago and have simply made tentative enquiries about whether England could participate instead. Yet the Barbarians insist that permission was originally sought last November and that the RFU had given outline consent for their match to take place — even agreeing a stadium hire fee of £500,000. Last night, the RFU sought to clarify the situation, emphasising that the fixture they had approved was to have been between Australia and the Barbarians. However, they stated that game was then ‘taken off the table’ by the promoter and replaced by a proposed Barbarians-All Blacks game instead. The union are adamant that they have never given any approval for that contest to take place. England have not faced New Zealand since November 2014 and are not, in theory, scheduled to do so again until the autumn series next year. Their rise to No 2 in the world rankings has generated considerable demand for a first-versus-second contest, but there have also been concerns expressed about financial motives and player welfare, especially in the aftermath of a Lions tour. Meanwhile, England supporters have paid up to £6,000 to watch today’s finale against Ireland in Dublin as costs rocketed. Ticket prices reached £1,700 on the secondary market and lastminute return flights from London peaked at £3,138 during a surge in St Patrick’s Day demand. Some profiteering hotels were charging upwards of £1,000 for two nights as supporters flocked to be at the Aviva Stadium party. Eddie Jones’ history-making side arrived yesterday on a luxury Boeing 737, chartered from the same private airline that often transports heads of state. The squad took off from Farnborough Airport, which has its own concealed entrance to keep autograph-hunters at bay and a private runway often used by Chelsea FC.