Rugby triumph pulls punters

A bonanza weekend of TV sport, highlighted by England's dramatic Rugby World Cup victory over Australia, gave pubs across the country a welcome trading boost.

Licensees and pubcos re-ported brisk business on the back of the two days which brought welcome relief after the summer trade wash-out.

But a number of hosts complained that a clash of events between soccer and rugby on Saturday afternoon took some of the gloss away. Live Premiership soccer overlapped with the start of the England-Australia clash causing a conflict of interest between many customers.

Licensees are now looking forward to a repeat performance next Saturday when back-to-back England soccer and rugby internationals are both screened live.

Pub operator JD Wether-spoon, which has heavily promoted the Rugby World Cup, said the weekend had been a major sporting event. "Saturday afternoon proved a particularly busy time for our pubs and attracted big audiences," said company spokesman Eddie Gershon.

Northern operator Mit-chells of Lancaster said its managed pubs had done well over the two days. "The World Cup really came alive this weekend," said managing director Jonathan Barker.

Host Adrian Clay of the Raikes Hall Hotel, Blackpool, said he had been forced to split the two Saturday afternoon sports on to different screens. "It was an unfortunate clash of events but we managed to satisfy both soccer and rugby camps.

"Next Saturday should be another great day as the rugby is screened in the evening after the England soccer international in the afternoon and there is no soccer to interfere with them," he said.

Regent Inns executive chairman Bob Ivell said the Cardiff Walkabout had taken £100,000 on Saturday alone, with the London Embank-ment site taking £80,000 and lots of sites taking £50,000 to £60,000 on the day.

"This coming weekend we've got rugby and football going for us - we'll be showing both," he added.