New expenses for rugby players held ‘satisfactory’

Press, 23 February 1978, Page 32

New expenses for rugby players held ‘satisfactory’

While they may be of little, or no, consequence to rugby players seriously considering a prfessional career, the new scale of allowances set recently by the New Zealand Rugby Union should satisfy the great majority’ of top players. This is the view of last year’s All Black captain, Tane Norton, who along with the man he succeeded, Andy Leslie, was a member of the New Zealand union sub-committee that studied tne question of allowances; and expenses and other mat-i ters pertaining to players.

Under the new system, players will receive $5.50 a cay for test matches in New Zealand, plus an assembly grant of $lO for incidentals. In addition, there will be a| mileage allowance for coun-, try players travelling to I their provincial headquar- j ters. For lesser games, such as I trials and inter-island i matches, the daily allowance is $3.50, with a $5 assembly! grant. The sub-committee also: successfully recommended to the New Zealand Union that] it press the International I Rugby Board for an increase from $5.50 to $lO in the daily allowance paid players tour-! ing overseas. However, there is doubt whether the board will accede to this request. Norton said that from his experience he knew of no; players who actually wanted! to make money out of play-1 mg rugby. “The majority! play because they enjoy it

and trips away are sufficient rewards,” he said.

“It may seem illogical, but when a player like Bruce Robertson will turn down $60,000 to turn professional the amateur game must still bold a special appeal.”

Norton said the bickering that had occurred in recent years about expenses was over small sums. All that the players asked was that they should not be far out of pocket for costs they had to meet in playing top rugby. The new allowances, he said, should meet this need. He recalled that that five years ago the daily allowance for a test player in New Zealand was s’.so. Now at $5.50, plus the $lO. assembly grant, items such as meals and taxis should be adequately covered. A player away for the five I days that is usual for a test ! match will receive $37.50 iand Norton said he believed most players of his 1 acquaintance would be 'happy with this figure. It 'should remove the hassle of 'players having to apply for and then, on occasions their annoyance when ssomr were refused. The sub-committee also 'had a look at the far larger • question of touring players being compensated for loss lof wages. Norton said the idea was not favoured in | principle, nor did he believe ; that it was a practical pro- ! position.

He cited the problems that might arise w T hen a team included players whose occu-

Ipations ranged from a qualified doctor to an apprentice carpenter. "’The whole social structure of a touring team would be threatened if players knew that some were receiving higher payments than others. This could lead to discontent and if the prize of a tour was lessened then both the players and the game would suffer.” Norton retired from firstclass rugby at the end of last season and until a few

weeks ago he had had doubts about whether he would carry out his intention of having a final club season with Linwood. However, he has now decided to make the effort to get fully fit and earn a place in the Linwood senior squad. Linwood has a promising hooker in John Froggart and Norton said he would like to do what he could to help Froggart, even if this meant they shared the hooking position.