BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | World club final delayed

Plans for a match between the Heineken Cup winners and the Super 12 champions have been put on hold because no suitable date can be found.

But both SANZAR, the governing body for southern hemisphere rugby, and its northern counterpart, the European Rugby Cup (ERC), are still keen for the match to go ahead.

"We believe that in order for this event to establish itself on the global rugby calendar that it must start on a sound footing," said Derek McGrath, chief executive of ERC.

"For this reason both sides concluded that the time is not right at present."

Had the match being given the green light, Leicester would have met New Zealand's Crusaders.

But the search for a suitable date was complicated by the World Cup which will be held in October next year in Australia.

Canterbury Crusaders captain Reuben Thorne with the Super 12 trophy
Crusaders captain Thorne with the Super 12 trophy

Rian Oberholzer, managing director of South Africa Rugby and member of the SANZAR Board, backed McGrath's comments.

"Although we have been unable to find a suitable date for this match in the short term, like ERC we are fully committed to the development of this prestige event," said Oberholzer.

"We see it as an excellent shop window for the Super 12 product and believe that the event will be fully embraced by the players and fans of our two hemispheres."

Meanwhile, the International Rugby Board rejected demands from the world's leading players for a �10,000 fee to appear in the inaugural northern v southern hemisphere all-stars clash.

The match is scheduled for Cardiff on 30 November.


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