Australian news organizations are threatening to drop coverage of the Rugby World Cup unless rules around reporting are loosened.

The Newspaper Publishers Association which represents both Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd and Fairfax Australia said it is rejecting the International Rugby Board’s accreditation terms and will not send accredited journalists to New Zealand.

According to the NZ Herald, Chief Executive Mark Hollands said that the IRB’s policies on the use of World Cup video were too restrictive, and demanded that publishers sign away their rights.

The IRB will only allow accredited newspapers to use small quantities of video online, and has also banned advertising next to video footage.

Leading Australian publishers News Ltd and Fairfax Media have both told the IRB they will not sign accreditation documents in this form.

Hollands said if no resolution is made, Australian journalists and photographers will either not go to New Zealand or will write their reports from outside the stadiums.

The Rugby World Cup kicks off on the 9th of next month with hosts NZ taking on Tonga at 8.30pm.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi