CRITICISM OF OFFER TO RUGBY PLAYERS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31632, 19 March 1968, Page 17

CRITICISM OF OFFER TO RUGBY PLAYERS

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union is “not too keen” on Australian clubs advertising in New Zealand for Rugby players.

The chairman of the union’s executive, Mr T. C. Morrison, said this yesterday when commenting on an advertisement published in New Zealand newspapers on Saturday.

The advertisement, under situations vacant, sought

Rugby players by urging them to take a working holiday in Australia, and said that positions' would be “available on arrival.”

“This is something that I have never come across before myself,” said Mr Morrison, “and I am sure that other executive members would not be very pleased about it.”

If it became clear that employment was being offered in this manner, then it became

close to professionalism, he said.

“May Take Look” “We haven’t had to worry about this in the past, but if it is likely to develop any further then we might have to have a closer look at the situation.” There has also been considerable comment in Sydney about the large number of New Zealand players who are seeking places in top-grade club teams there. Many are representative players from New Zealand and their presence is having a major effect, especially in New South Wales. “You must remember, it’s a free world,” said Mr Morrison.

“New Zealanders are a race that like to travel overseas, ard the chances are that if you take a group of young New Zealand men anywhere, then a big proportion of them will have played Rugby.” “This is the situation that is apparently arising in Australia at the moment," he said, after reading a recent article in “The Press.” No Talks

“But we haven’t ever had discussions with the Australian authorities about the question, and I don’t think that we need to.”

Citing the case of D. M. Connor, Mr Morrison said that there had always been “a free inter-flow of players" between the two countries. Some unions called for clearances from former clubs and unions before players may take part in competition matches. The New Zealand union had no over-all clearance scheme with Australia, or any other country, he said.