Tony Dempsey wants the IRB to share profits with players

A leading players' representative has warned the International Rugby Board that it will face a crisis if it fails to share World Cup profits with players.

International Rugby Players Association chairman Tony Dempsey said the players at this year's Rugby World Cup would receive none of the earnings from the tournament.

He told the Sydney Daily Telegraph that the decision was at odds with the practice adopted by other major professional sports and despite players being ordered to sign a participation agreement allowing the IRB to profit from them.

"We have read the tournament manual and it's archaic," Dempsey said.

This problem is not going to go away Tony Dempsey IPRA chairman

"They (the IRB) are out of touch with modern sporting trends.

"Players are being told that for participating in the rugby World Cup they receive heightened public profile and the chance to play in a prestige tournament.

"In return they have to consent to the use of their name, image, likeness, photograph, signature and audio-visual recording of their performances in anything from videos to collectible stickers, trading cards and board games."

Dempsey said he had written to the IRB in January, asking for a meeting in order to sort out the intellectual property problem, but was told to take up the issue with individual unions.

"We've told them this problem is not going to go away. We're asking them to reconsider their position," Dempsey said.