D. CONNOR’S STATUS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30145, 31 May 1963, Page 8

D. CONNOR’S STATUS

Interpretation Of Rule

The possibility of the All Black half-back, D. M. Connor, being ineligible to play for New Zealand on its tour of the British Isles because he has represented Australia against the four Home Unions has been raised by Mr W. C. Ramsay, treasurer of the Rugby Union, and a former member of the International Rugby Board. Mr Ramsay, who K touring New Zealand with the England Rugby team, has advised the New Zealand union to seek an opinion from the international board as to the correctness of Conndr’s selection.

Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the executive council of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said yesterday that there was no ban on Connor as far as New Zealand was concerned but the matter would be raised at a meeting of the executive council today. It appears that Mr Morrison's opinion is the correct one and that Mr Ramsay has

misinterpreted the rules governing a player representing two countries.

Chapter three of the "History of the International Rugby Football Board,” says that in 1951 the board decided that the rule that no person should play tor two countries applied to the Home Unions only. In 1960 the board reaffirmed that decision and recommended that “as between Dominions, the matter should be decided by the Dominions’ committees.”

When this was pointed out to Mr Ramsay yesterday, he said: “That could well be,” and that it was only a suggestion from him.