Sydney  - Australia cannot afford to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup and may not bid for the 2019 competition either, Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said Tuesday.

O'Neil said the International Rugby Board (IRB) was insisting the host assume all costs as well as a tournament guarantee fee.

As well as financial concerns were the time constraints, because the IRB will announce the 2015 and 2019 hosts on July 28, six years before the first tournament and 10 years before the next.

The 2015 World Cup is expected to be held in the northern hemisphere, with England the likely host. Japan and South Africa are among those favoured to stage the 2019 tournament.

"I've got to say the numbers are horrendously difficult to justify," O'Neill said. "In the event we are not in the race, Japan will have our support." (dpa)