Troublesome rugby rule may be wiped

Press, 13 February 1981, Page 24

Troublesome rugby rule may be wiped

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

There is probably no rule of the Canterbury Rugby Union that ‘ has caused as many headaches over the years as the one relating to town residents wanting to play for country clubs and country residents wanting to play in town. This' rule restricting free movement has been in force for many years, although some relaxation was offered about TO years ago with the inclusion of a clause promising favourable consideration

for players wanting to play in an area, or for a club, with which they, had some previous association. ’ - ■ ; Hbwever, there is now . a move afoot to get ridof the rule altogether... This is the substance of a motion that the Linwood club will move at the annual meeting of the C.R.F.U. next week, If the . Linwood motion is passed then a footballer .will be able to play for any club in the province he chooses, providing he' fills the 14-day residential qualification. It can be no accident that

such a • dramatic change is being sought’ by Linwood as it has: beerit at the centre of some of the hottest debates about' “boundary hopping” by which the .. practice of players moving outside <?f their home districts has come to be known. The most celebrated case was the Robin Cocks affair about 12-years ago. Cocks, a, Canterbury wing at the time, had a long and sometimes bitter battle before he was able, to continue playing: for Linwood while living in Rolleston. ‘

More, recently,.. Linwood has experienced problems in getting a' clearance. for-, its Rangiora-based first fiveeighths, Lindsay Hills. The rule, which applies to both junior and senior players, was originally in-, tended to offer protection to country clubs, but the president of the Liwood club, Mr George. Stove, said yesterday he did riot believe that the country clubs needed this assistance any longer. In fact, he said that research’ done by the Linwood tlub showed , that

country clubs' had ; more to lose than town .clubs if . the rule was strictly, a'dhered toL Each year the' Canterbury union gives dispensations to dozens of players, moving on both directions, to play outside of their home districts and there are rumoured to be many others who do so without official sanction, ■ - - It is believed that some town, clubs will support Linwood and the outcome will probably hinge on the country attitude. Not only does’* country have sizeable

voting strength, but the uncommitted clubs will probably be influenced by the reaction 'of the country delegates. .. , .■ The : management ” commitee of the Canterbury union has adopted no. stand on the Linwood motion, leaving its' free to express their own opinions. The committee has, however, asked its permit and rules chairman, -Mr .N. Gr Gow, to have available for the meeting as many facts as possible on the - movements of town and country