IRB Meeting In Auckland,

Leading coaches, referees and officials meet in Auckland from today, Tuesday to Thursday to see what changes need to be
taken after a hugely successful Rugby World Cup.

New All Blacks coach Graham Henry will be joined by England
counterpart
Clive Woodward, Australia coach Eddie Jones, France’s Bernard
Laporte, and
Ireland’s Eddie O’Sullivan.

New Zealand referee Paddy O’Brien, All Blacks doctor John Mayhew
and
Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy, who missed the World Cup after
breaking his
leg, will also be attending.

“It is an impressive gathering, and coming so soon after the
Rugby World
Cup, it provides an excellent opportunity to discuss and debate a
wide range
of topical issues,” said Geoff Evans, the IRB Head of
Development.
But Evans said there would be no ‘quick-fix’ to problems such as
the
financial plight of rugby’s emerging nations, World Cup match
scheduling bias
and player burn-out.

“It is a discussion forum and no decisions will be taken, but
a number of
the proposals submitted and the recommendations made will be taken
forward to
the Annual Meeting of the IRB in April,” said Evans.

Also under discussion will be the laws of the game, with the New
Zealand
delegation set to make an appeal for alterations.

“We think there are some improvements that can be made around
the tackle
ball area and we can look at the substitution issue with front row
forwards,”
All Black deputy chief executive Steve Tew said.
The role of the second tackler is a sensitive point for most teams.
Woodward will also call for a clarification of the use of dummy
runners.