NO REP. RUGBY AT RANGIORA

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 18

NO REP. RUGBY AT RANGIORA

Representative Rugby matches will not be played at the Rangiora showgrounds this season because of a disagreement between the Rangiora club and the Canterbury Rugby SubUnions Association.

The association’s executive decided last evening that it could not accept the terms offered for the use of the grounds by the Rangiora club and would seek an alternative ground. Representative matches have been played at Rangiora for the last nine years. In September last year, Rangiora advised the association that the fees for the show ground for the next three seasons would be 20 per cent of the gate takings and $5 would be charged for representative training. The previous charge provided in part for 10 per cent of the takings and a training facilities fee. Club Was Adamant The chairman of the association (Mr M. R. Barnett) said that the Rangiora club had been adamant that the new charges remain; the association could not afford the additional cost. A sub-committee will negotiate terms with other country centres to establish another permanent centre. n«p. Match.—A request by the Horowhenua union to play the Canterbury sub-union on Saturday, June 14, while on a southern tour, was granted. The date is subject l to further reviews The Rodney sub-union,

Northland, requested a match with a sub-union north of Christchurch on Thursday, May 29. The sub-unibn will be sent the names of the secretaries of the three Canterbury subunions.

Selectors.— Messrs I. McNally and L. Davies were appointed the senior selectors for the 1969 season.

Match Takings.— The executive moved that the three subunions receive $lOO each from a grant of $1076 which was received from the Canterbury Rugby Union as a half share from the Town-Country match last season.

Referees' Payments. The referee’s delegate, Mr S. C. Millar, asked that a firm policy be established for payment of referees’ travelling expenses. Some referees were getting payment immediately after a match, others two years later, and others not at all, he said. He recommended that the annual meeting of the association approve that sub-unions pay into a pool account for referees’ expenses, and that referees be paid on application.