RUGBY UNION : Dwyer hits out at RFU

The long-standing Australian national coach, Bob Dwyer, attacked England administrators and the International Rugby Board yesterday for maintaining an air of litism in their opposition to professionalism.

His comments came days after the England captain, Will Carling, was sacked and then reinstated after describing, during a television programme, the Rugby Football Union as "57 old farts" in comments supportive of a move to professionalism.

"Anyone who call themselves the Rugby Football Union should be dismissed as having no view worthy of merit," Dwyer said. "If they changed their name to the England Rugby Football Union we could at least say they have come down to earth and joined the rest of us."

Dwyer predicted that the game in Australia and New Zealand would move fully on to a professional footing by 1997 - and possibly even as early as next year.

The young Munster prop forward, John Fitzgerald, has been ruled out of Ireland's World Cup squad. Fitzgerald broke down in training at Kilkenny last Tuesday when he tore a calf muscle and his place goes to the uncapped Old Wesley prop, Henry Hurley, 29.

Argentina, England's first World Cup opponents on 27 May, suffered a major blow when the full-back Santiago Meson, their best goal-kicker, was ruled out for four months.

Meson, Argentina's points record-holder with 29 in one Test, fractured his right ankle during the second Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday and needs an operation. He will be replaced by the stand-off, Jos Cilley.

Another stand-off, Christophe Deylaud, will join the French squad after a successful operation on a broken thumb. He should be available for France's third pool match against Scotland in Pretoria on 3 June.