BULLER RUGBY DISPUTE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28025, 20 July 1956, Page 7

BULLER RUGBY DISPUTE

PLAYERS TURN OUT FOR TRAINING SQUAD MEMBERS NAMED FOR TRIAL GAME (New Zealand Press Association) WESTPORT, July 19. The Buller Rugby representative training squad which had intimated that it would not be available for the trial match at Ngakawau on Saturday was at training at Westport last night with a full muster of players. An indication that the players have changed their attitude was given in an assurance to the president of the Buller Union, Mr W. A. Craddock, by the team captain that there will be no worry about getting the best team possible out for both the Springbok match next Wednesday, for which eight Buller players have been chosen, and the Seadon Shield match at Nelson on July 28. There was a further indication that the players would be available for the trial match, which they claim should not have been arranged, between Buller and the Rest, with the naming of the two teams by the selectors. Messrs O. Smallholme and G. Orman. They had been given until this afternoon to name the teams but they were released early this morning containing all but one of the 22 members of the squad, the other being on the injured list.

Mr Smallholme said that he had taken no part in the dispute and did not condone it but he could not select a team when players stated that they were unavailable. Mr Craddock said this morning that he believed that the players would realise the difficult position in which they had placed themselves and also their duty to the Buller Union. He stressed that the union would not

weaken in any way on its attitude towards the dispute even if it meant taking a colts team to Nelson and reorganising the Buller-West Coast team to play the Springboks. Mr Craddock expressed resentment at the direct action of the players m an endeavour to gain concessions to which they were not entitled. He added that if the players had come to the union with a legitimate grievance it would have been considered but the attitude taken could not be tolerated by any administering body.

The dispute arose over the unwillingness of the* players to take part in a hard match so close to the fixture against the Springboks on Wednesday and the Seddon Shield match on July 28. Some admitted that they were disturbed at the possibility of being penalised if they carried out their plans to attend the game between Canterbury and the Springboks at Christchurch on Saturday.