Union reverses ruling on transfers

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33600, 31 July 1974, Page 16

Union reverses ruling on transfers

The Canterbury Rugby Union I •last evening reversed a decision i i it made a week earlier on the. transfer of two senior reserve, j players from R.N.Z.A.F. to j Hornby for the remainder of the! season. Originally, permission was; refused, but last evening Hornby 'backed up an appeal by having; two of its officials appear before ithe union's management com- ’ mittee. The club argued that the fact' it was on trial for senior status! constituted special circum-stances—-which are necessary for a mid-season transfer—and the committee upheld this argument. It also took into account the. close alliance which existed between the two clubs. The two players are J. Thomas, a wing, and K. Beckett, a second, five-eighths. TOUR MANAGER The committee congratulated one of its members, Mr R. W. Thomas, for reaching the final; ballot in the choice of manager; of the All Blacks team to visit Ireland in November. . Mr J. G. Mullins said that he was disappointed another Canterbury nominee, Dr J. D. Stewart, had not been named as coach. “It would seem that the New Zealand union is satisfied with the play of the Al! Blacks in Australia—winning two tests and drawing one against a side deprived of a number of its leading players—and that this style of play will be successful in Ireland. I have doubts,” Mr Mullins added. Protest.—A protest was received from Manst against the loss its senior side suffered last. 'Saturday to Merivale-Papanui. I

Marist alleged that Mei i vale-1 Papanui fielded a member of the Belfast club, R. Bush. An’ ’ explanation is to be sought from • Merivale-Papanui. Suspensions.—Four players ordered off ' last Saturday for, i fighting were each suspended for two Saturdays. They were C. ; Dawson (Teachers’ College) and ' T. Keith (New Brighton), both ■ junior grade players, and the others were from the New Brighton and Sydenham under 15 ; sides