The Celtic countries have warned England and France, who are bidding to stage the 2007 World Cup, that there will be a price for their support.
On the two other occasions that the tournament has been held in Europe - in 1991 and 1999 - the pool matches and quarter-finals were shared between the four home unions and France, with the countries keeping their gate receipts. But, following the fiasco earlier this year when New Zealand were stripped of their 2003 sub-host status after a series of disputes with Rugby World Cup Ltd and the hosts Australia, the bidders for 2007 have been encouraged to submit stand-alone bids.
With England and France the only two nations in the running, Scotland, Wales and Ireland fear they will lose out financially and their concerns were articulated by Allan Hosie, the president of the Scottish Rugby Union.
"The hosting arrangements for the 2007 World Cup with regard to financial distribution are a cause of concern," he said. "We have to make sure the richer nations do not become better off at the expense of their poorer counterparts. We will want assurances before we offer our support."
England hold a press conference on October 1 when they will outline the details of their bid, six weeks ahead of the RWC meeting which will award hosting rights.
The Celts have six votes between them and, while England have been cultivating developing unions such as Argentina and Canada, they would almost certainly need the support of their home union partners to succeed.
Australia, meanwhile, are mourning Greg Smith, the first coach of the Wallabies in the professional era, who has died at the age of 52. Smith spent a month at Saracens last season.
· Bath's centre Kevin Maggs has returned to Ireland's side after a lengthy lay-off. Maggs, who broke an arm in March, will play alongside Brian O'Driscoll against Romania in Limerick this weekend.
Ireland: Dempsey; Kelly, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie; O'Gara, Stringer; Corrigan, Wood (capt), Hayes, O'Kelly, Longwell, S Easterby, Gleeson, Foley. Replacements: Byrne, P Wallace, Cullen, G Easterby, Humphreys, Henderson.
