News coverage boycott

While it's obviously far easier to play tough with rugby than the NFL, it seems to me that this may well be the only genuine resolution to questions about restricted access and restrictive prohibitions from sports franchises.

News Agencies Boycott on Limits

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS, Sept. 6 (AP) —The world’s three leading news agencies suspended coverage Thursday of the Rugby World Cup in a dispute with the sport’s governing body over media restrictions.

The Associated Press said its representatives would not attend any World Cup events until the dispute over media credentials was resolved with the International Rugby Board. Reuters and Agence France-Presse also said they were suspending coverage.

The A.P. said it hoped for a resolution so it could return to full coverage of the six-week tournament before the opening match Friday between France and Argentina.

The A.P. said it would not distribute text stories, photographs or TV images from precompetition events Thursday.

UPDATE:

Message from the Associated Press

The press freedom dispute with the IRB has just been settled and normal coverage should resume. Other information may follow.