Organisers of this year's Rugby World Cup have urged Italy to reconsider their threat to boycott the tournament because they are unhappy with the playing schedule. Officials in Australia, where the tournament is being held, insist that the draw is unlikely to be changed just because of Italy's complaints.
Rugby World Cup general manager Matt Carroll said it was up to the International Rugby Board to decide whether any changes could be made but he thought the prospects were slim. "Once you move one game you have to start changing the whole thing," Carroll said. "With less than six months to go, that's going to be very difficult."
Carroll said he hoped Italy would not proceed with their threat but said the tournament would go on regardless even if they did withdraw on protest. "It would be very disappointing if the Italians did pull out but that's a matter for them to decide. It's a pretty big step to implement because you've got to be in it to win it. It's a matter for them to decide themselves but it's not going to mean the end of the World Cup."
The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) said in a statement they made numerous protests to the tournament organisers once the draw was released last year but Carroll denied that. "I've heard some mutterings in the press but there's been any official notification from them," Carroll said. “The draw's been out for a long time now, it's strange that they've left it so late."
The Italians, who were drawn in Pool D for the World Cup which starts on October 10, had complained that the draw was unfairly stacked against them. They have to play their four pool games within 14 days while most of their opponents, including group D favourites New Zealand, play over 22 days.
However, Carroll denied the draw was unfair. He said the Italians were given a minimum three-day break between each of their matches in accordance with the tournament regulations and the only reason other sides had longer gaps was because they had to fly between cities.
Italy's first game is against New Zealand in Melbourne on October 11 followed by matches against Tonga (October 15), Canada (October 21) and Wales (October 25), all in Canberra.
