Ron Don can expect cool reception

Press, 11 July 1979, Page 34

Ron Don can expect cool reception

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr Ron Don, can expect a cool reception the next time he visits Christchurch, particularly from members of the Canterbury union. The union’s management committee, at its weekly meeting last evening, was anything but happy with published comments yesterday by Mr Don’s criticism of Canterbury for its alleged poor promotion of last Saturday’s test. Mr Don was reported as saying that lack of promotion, and not television, was the reason for the smaller than expected attendance at the test, and said that the New Zealand union would lose many

thousands of dollars through the failure of the Canterbury union to promote the game in such a way as to ensure a sell-out. Mr Don said he was confidant that the second test at Auckland next Saturday would be a sell-out. The matter was first raised last evening by the Canterbury’ president. Mr R. W. Thomas, when thanking his committee for a job well done in organising the Christchurch test. “I believe everyone did a magnificent job and as a result we had a great day. J have nothing but praise for all those who made a contribution.” The one mistake, said Mr Thomas, was an error in

judgment in respect to the gates serving No. 3 stand, where some patrons had a lengthy wait before they were able to occupy their

seats: “This is something we have got to correct in the future.” At the suggestion of Mr C. H. J. Rhodes, Mr Thomas said the union would like to make a public apology to the patrons who had been inconvenienced, especially as they had followed instructions and gone to the gate indicated on their tickets. Mr Thomas then turned

to Mr Don’s comments. He said the game had been prorated to the fullest and until yesterday he hqd received nothing but expres-

sions of praise and congratulations about the organisation. “If Saturday is what rugby is all about then I am happy to participate to the end of my days,” he said. Mr J. K. Torrance said he took strong exception to Mr Don’s remarks. “He is the chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union and holds no other posi-

tlon. After the game he was granted special status by being allowed into the All Blacks dressing room and that he should now make the comments he has is, to my mind, not in very good taste. “Everything possible was done to publicise the game and I believe that we can rest contended in the knowledge that we played our part,” Mr Torrance said. The matter was raised again later by Mr G. G. Don (no relation to Auckland’s Mr Don) tn his report as chairman of the publicity committee. “If the report is correct then I am most disturbed. A lot of people worked

very hard to make the game a success and what Mr Don says is a lot of hogwash. “The man has got a problem. He got dumped from the New Zealand Rugby Union and if he had a complaint he should at least have had the courtesy to raise it while he was here. “For some reason he has got a grudge against Canterbury and this is the way he has decided to express it. I just hope he can run his own ship as well as we can ours here,” said Mr Don. He added that he expected an apology, but thought it unlikely that one would be forthcoming.