League “On Loan” Rule Likely To Go

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31922, 25 February 1969, Page 18

League “On Loan” Rule Likely To Go

The practice of allowing Rugby league players to join other club* “on loan” and free from the usual four-match transfer suspension period, appears certain to be terminated at the Canterbury Rugby League’s annual meeting on March 19.

The board of control last evening received remits from four clubs, Addington, Eastern Suburbs, Linwood and Marist-Westem Suburbs, ad-

vocating that this type of transfer be abolished. The board agreed to forward a remit favouring abolition of “on loan’’ transfers. All players affected by the remit will be deemed to be fully registered members of the club that they last played for if the proposal becomes law.

The ”on loan” transfers were introduced to assist weaker clubs. A member of a club with no senior team could transfer to a senior dub without penalty and return to his former club again without facing the transfer suspension, should that club win promotion. Similarly, should two clubs have insufficient players to field a team each in any particular grade, the players were able to join together under the direction of one of the clubs. When they moved to other grades they were able to return to their former clubs unhindered.

The remit will clarify the case of the Southern Zone centre, B. Williams, who wishes to transfer to Eastern Suburbs. Williams has played for Kaiapoi for three seasons after gaining an “on loan" transfer from the junior club, Shirley. He will now have to stand down for the first four club matches of the season as stipulated bv the transfer rules. Nominations The patron (Mr L. G. Amos), vice-patron (Mr L. A. Stuart), and president (Mr H. A. King) will be re-elected unopposed At the annual meeting. Messrs E. G. Blazey, R. K. Andrews, J. Lloyd, H. H. Woodham, B. Griffiths, and W. L. Prendergast have been nominated as vicepresidents. One board member. Mr J. D. Shearer, has declined nomination and will retire after three years in office. In addition to the present board members, nomiations were also received from Messrs D. Kerr, V. C. Wise, L. W. Lightfoot, and M. R. Clinton. The secretary (Mr D. G. Gaynor) and treasurer (Mr J. H. Machirus) will not be opposed. N.S.W. Tour.—Mr A. J. Atkinson was nominated as manager of the New Zealand under-28 team to tour New South Wales early in May. Teams.—Team nominations from clubs were requested before April 7. Nominations were also requested for the Canterbury selection panel.