Pro. troupe is rugby’s main threat — Stewart

Press, 14 April 1978, Page 24

Pro. troupe is rugby’s main threat — Stewart

PA Wellington The former All Black coach, Mr J. J. Stewart, yesterday rebuked the New Zealand Rugby Football Union for its response to the threat of professionalism. He was also critical of a statement on amateurism from the union’s chairman, Mr Ces Blazey.

Mr Stewart told the MK.F.U.’s an.iuai meeting in Wellington that too much time was being spent on the Grant Batty Superstars controversy while the real threat to the game, the proposed professional rugby troupe, was being overlooked

“I agree with much of Ces Blazey’s statement.” he said, “but “ unfortunately, in my opinion, the tail of it was built round this Superstars nonsense.”

He said there was little real threat from Superstars and, in another obvious reference to Batty, said there was also little to be feared from “people writing a few ■cungy books.” “What we should be concentrating on is this professional rugby invasion.” Mr Stewart said. "It’s like an open sore on our necks.” He said the professional

troupe would not just gc away — it had to be beaten. I “It’s not enough to say we i deplore professionalism in jour game, not enough to ! issue statements: We must ■ fight it." He cited the action of the Wanganui union as an

example. The professional troupe had requested that Spriggens Park be made available to it next September, but its request was denied. “That’s the sort of thing we have to do,” Mr Stewart said.

“I go along with much of Ces Blazey’s statement but I don’t think it’s nearly strong enough. It doesn’t give us any guidelines, doesn’t tell us how to fight it (professionalism).” Mr Stewart also touched on the matter of the many New Zealand players currently spending the offseason in France.

“Its pretty obvious that they’re getting some sort of reward for playing there,” he said. “You can’t put that under the mat and its got to be handled.”

He was backed up by fellow Wanganui delegate, Mr

Paul Mitchell, who said it was now quite clear that some players were receiving monetary rewards for play ing in France.

“I understand that player have to sign a statement before they go, saying that they aren’t breaching the amateur code,” he said.

The difficulty was in obtaining proof, Mr Mitchell said. In his written statement, Mr Blazey said the New Zealand union would “take whatever steps are necessary” to safeguard the principles of amateurism in rugby. The International Rugby Board had at its recent annual meeting in London instructed all member unions to strictly maintain the amateur nature of the game.

“The N.Z.R.F.U. has an obligation to make enquiries when it appears there could have been a breach of regulations," Mr Blazey said. “I emphasise that we will continue to do so.”

Contrary to widespread belief, he said, the New Zealand union had not made enquiries of just one person but of a number of people — “who have been asked to reply to the union in writing.”

Mr Blazey recently. said that such inquiries had been made of two former All Black captains, Andy Leslie and lan Kirkpatrick, who had written articles for an Auckland newspaper. Both had provided satisfactory answers.

“The question has been asked why a professional in some non-related sports is permitted to play rugby, whereas such competitions a r Superstars are covered by the regulations,” Mr Blazey’s statement said.

“The situation is that the people invited to take part in Superstars competitions are invited oecause of their prominence in their particular sport. “Hence rugby players are invited because of their prominence in rugby. “The specific International Rugby Board regulation provides that players may only accept such an invitation with the prior consent of their national rugby union and subject to such conditions as that union shall impose.

“The union must make one of the conditions of participating in the competition that any financial reward or remuneration — after deduction of reasonable expenses — shall be paid through the union to such club dr charity as the person competing shall nominate.” said Mr Blazey. He reiterated that the N.Z.R.F.U. had an obligation to make inquiries where it appeared there could have been a breach of regulations. The regulations applied not only to players, but also to administrators, referees, coaches, organisers and • other persons “directly” involved in the game from 'club to national level.