Feelers out

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 32

Feelers out

It appears certain that interest in B. G. Williams ((Auckland) by British (Rugby league clubs will (not be terminated by the 'All Black three-quarter’s (refusal to accept a guaranteed S4OOO-a year contract offered by Salford.

The powerful Lancashire club, St Helens, at present lying second in the league table behind Wakefield Trinity, is also expected to make an approach for Williams’s services, through its secretary (Mr B. Lowe). Mr J. H. Clegg, a director of St Helens, wrote to the Rugby league reporter of "The Press,” in October, seeking information on Williams’s age, employment, and playing career. “We consider this boy would be a sensation in British Rugby league.” wrote Mr C '“fn fact, he played Rugby league as a youngster in the 1964 national 15-years tournament. If we could possibly agree to terms and sign him, he would be as good a signing as the great Tom van Vollenhoven, who retired two years ago, after 10 years of service to the club, and returned to South Africa,” said Mr Clegg. 400 TRIES ‘ A member of the 1956 Springbok team in New Zealand, Van Vollenhoven scored i nearly 400 tries in Britain after changing codes. He was the leading try-scorer in that country on three occasions and established a St Helens record of 62 touch-downs in 1958-59. Mr Clegg wrote again a month ago, saying that St Helens intended to contact Williams “to see if he is interested in coming to England, and if he is, we will start negotiating from there. We are keeping our fingers crossed that he is interested in turning professional.” Williams, aged 20, yesterday turned down a guarantee of $4OOO-a-year to play for Salford, according to a New Zealand Press Association message from Auckland. “I want to stay in New Zealand and continue with my law studies,” said Williams. “And I want to continue playing Rugby Union, not Rugby league. New Zea-

land is a good place to live, and I’m not anxious to leave it.” WORTH $24,000 The Salford offer could have been worth $24,000 to Williams over a four-year period. The Salford club chairman (Mr B. Snape), a wealthy English businessman had offered Williams $4OOO each season, plus the usual match fees. If Williams, or any other current international in either code, decided to join an overseas Rugby league club, the New Zealand Rugby league would benefit by $6OOO under the scale of negotiating fees introduced in place of the overseas transfer ban last year. The fee must be lodged with the administrative body in the other country before a clearance is granted by the New Zealand council of management.