A hard line taken today by the International Rugby Board could see the All Blacks not competing in the next Rugby World Cup. In response to New Zealand’s warning last week that they would consider pulling out of the 2015 tournament, citing  financial losses during this year’s World Cup, the IRB have shrugged and said, “everyone is replaceable”.

As laughable as that may sound, the New Zealand rugby community is not at all amused, with a flurry of high profile responses ensuing. All Black assistant coach, Wayne Smith made the point, “You’ve just got to see what rugby means in this country to think of it as inconceivable”. All Black winger, Richard Kahui echoed the sentiment, saying a World Cup without any of the top rugby nations would not be legit.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has threatened to boycott the RWC in England in 2015, following reports of expected revenue losses of around NZ$13,2 million ($10 million) this year due to the IRB’s commercial model for the tournament. And it seems that the IRB isn’t terribly bothered.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald / Image: RugbyFix]