Dempsey wants to deal directly with the IRB

The International Rugby Board has come under fire after ignoring calls for talks over its refusal to give players a share of World Cup profits.

The International Rugby Players' Association (IRPA) says its members are upset that the IRB will not follow the lead of other major sports by providing prize money or other financial support.

With the deadline for the return of signed player participation forms - allowing the IRB to exploit the names and images of competitors - set for 31 July, the IRPA's calls for a meeting have been turned down.

Players have been told to take up the matter with their individual unions.

"The IRB wants to have its cake and eat it too," said IRPA chairman Tony Dempsey.

"It is out of step with modern global trends."

The IRB is putting extreme pressure on employment relations within its member unions New Zealand players' chief Rob Nichol

Damian Hopley, chairman of the UK Professional Rugby Players' Association, called for the matter to be addressed now to avoid problems in the run-up to the World Cup in September.

"The IRB needs to directly engage the players' representatives in discussions concerning the conditions of the tournament to prevent the issues snowballing, creating tensions and disharmony," said Hopley.

New Zealand Players' Association chief Rob Nichol said the IRB was obliged to deal with the issue rather than expect individual unions to develop their own rules.

"The IRB is not only absolving itself of its responsibility in this regard but it is in the process of putting extreme pressure on employment relations within its member unions," he said.

"The most efficient and sensible way to resolve the players' concern is for the IRB to work directly with the IRPA and involve the individual unions and player associations as required."

The IRPA has so far stopped short of calling on players to boycott the tournament.