Ireland has been placed on a shortlist of six countries to host the next Rugby World Cup Sevens. A decision on the matter will be taken in October, the International Rugby Board (IRB) announced yesterday. The other countries on the list are: Argentina, Canada, Japan, Portugal and Spain. Meanwhile, Rugby union's 2003 World Cup will be staged in New Zealand and Australia, the countries who held the inaugural competition in 1987.

The expected decision was announced in Dublin yesterday by Vernon Pugh, chairman of the International Rugby Board (IRB).

"We look forward to the first RWC tournament of the new millennium after the 1999 event in Wales, which we're sure will be a big success," he said.

"The unprecedented growth of rugby in the last 10 years was triggered off by the first World Cup staged in New Zealand and Australia. We're sure that the event of 2003 will be a showcase for the international game."

The final of the 2003 World Cup will be staged in Sydney at a new stadium that has yet to be built.

Spain, France and England had been in the running to stage the 2003 competition, but all withdrew their bids in time to support the New Zealanders and Australians.

The IRB also announced that an international squad will now be increased from 21 to 22 players, with the seven players on the bench available as replacements or substitutes.

The new move comes into effect immediately, in time for the start of the Five Nations Championship on Saturday week and the Southern Hemisphere's Super 12 competition in late February.