Canada blast after minnows lose stars

Canada brought a simmering World Cup row to the boil yesterday by accusing British clubs of 'underhand' methods to prevent the poorer rugby nations claiming their top players.

As disturbing evidence of how the tournament will be split between the haves and the have-nots, at least five countries have no option but to send teams weakened by the absence of leading players who say they cannot afford to go to Australia. A class system is about to divide the World Cup.

Samoa, left another man short yesterday by Leicester wing Henry Tuilagi joining his Wasps compatriot Trevor Leota and Harlequins wing George Harder in deciding to concentrate on the English Premiership, have served notice that they cannot afford to continue after the World Cup. In that event, England in Melbourne on October 26 will be their penultimate Test.

As the governing body, the International Board, faced the depressing facts of economic life, Canada coach Dave Clark accused them of being 'toothless tigers' for failing to demand the release of players employed by overseas clubs. Three more of those making up the numbers in Australia have also been hit: Fiji, Romania and Georgia.

Clark said: 'At the last World Cup clubs were not smart enough to entice their internationals to stay with them. They've smartened up in the four years since.

'Now they put two contracts on the table. They say to the player: "Here's the contract if you play for us during the World Cup" and it's worth, say, £200,000. "And here's the contract if you want to play for your country" and it's worth £100,000. "Which one do you want?". That's underhand.

'The International Board have been unable to prevent it. That's the occupational hazard we and other countries face. For example, we don't have one of our best players here because of a selfish club situation.'

While one Saracens scrum half, Kyran Bracken, rejoined England yesterday for an eighth week of specialist preparation, Canada were in camp on Vancouver Island with their Saracens scrum half Morgan Williams on the other side of the Atlantic, preparing to face Leicester on Sunday.