Murray McCully

Wellington, Oct 22 NZPA - First it was which channel the Rugby World Cup games would be shown on, now the argument has turned to a silver fern emblem.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully wanted the silver fern to be added to Rugby World Cup volunteers' uniforms.

But the International Rugby Board (IRB) believed the fern had too strong an association with the All Blacks, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Mr McCully said the volunteers would create a "spirit of co-operation" and having the fern on the uniform was an opportunity for New Zealand to promote itself internationally.

"That is the government's position (to have the fern) and the IRB is in no doubt of that."

There were many ways to recreate a fern so it did not look like an All Blacks' uniform, Mr McCully said.