DECISION RESERVED ON LEAGUE BAN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31326, 23 March 1967, Page 3

DECISION RESERVED ON LEAGUE BAN

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 22.

There would be no good football in the Dominion if the New Zealand Rugby Football League did not have control over senior players, its president, Leo Joseph Cooney, said in the Supreme Court at Auckland today.

Cooney was giving evidence for the League which has been named as defendant by Gary Charles Blackler, a Rugby League international, in his application for a declaration that the refusal of the League to give him a clearance to play in Australia was unlawful.

Mr Justice Perry, after hearing submissions on the law today, reserved his decision.

Mr E. S. Bowie, Q.C., with him Mr S. G. Erber, appeared for Blackler, and Mr R. K. Davison, Q.C., with him Mr M. K. Norton, appeared for the League. Cooney, the only witness! called by the League, said that; applications for clearances to play overseas received by the I New Zealand council were re-1 ferred to the convener of the I

| New Zealand selection panel and he had reports from the national selectors on whether a person applying was required for further representative football within New Zealand or overseas. If the applicant was required, then his application was refused. If he was not required, his application was then considered by the council in line with its policy. Blacker’s initial application had been refused because the selection panel reported that

he was required for further representative football and having been a Kiwi he had not completed the term of service that the council advised ; following first selection as a | New Zealand representative. Mr Bowie:—Do you consider New Zealand is lost without Blackler?—Not necessarily. Ninety-nine per cent of players have returned to New Zealand on having transfers refused.

Cooney said that he considered that the policy was reasonable to protect Rugby League in New Zealand and internationally. He agreed that the rules of the Papanui club might provide for its financial year to end in June.

Asked if Blackler’s resignation would not have taken effect in the June after it was lodged, Cooney said that the League did not acknowledge resignations.

There was no specific regulation, but a player would be considered unfinancial if he had not paid his dues. If Blackler wished to play as an amateur in Australia he could seek a clearance to play for a specific club not in a metropolitan area.