Thames coach resigns

Press, 29 May 1981, Page 32

Thames coach resigns

PA Paeroa The Thames Valley senior rugby selector-coach,. Mr Dave Jones, has resigned from his position owing to business commitments. The resignation was received at Wednesday night's meeting of the Thames Valley rugby union's executive committee. The committee chairman, Mr Bernie Passau, said yesterday that Mr Jones had to choose between his job as an insurance agent or continuing with selecting and coaching the Valley side. He said the resignation would take effect from the conclusion of the Valley’s

representative match against North Auckland on Monday, at Whangarei. Mr Jones said yesterday that he had received a stern letter from his employers and he had accepted it. “I will take a spell from rugby, concentrate on my job and devote a little more time to my wife and family,” he said. Mr Jones has been at the centre of a controversy which flared up between him and the Thames Valley team which made a short tour of northern New South Wales in mid-April. Mr Jones left the side after a difference of opinion

with players in the team and returned home. When the players arrived home they decided not to play for Thames Valley while Mr Jones was sqlectorcoach. However, more than half the 21 players involved relented and took part in the representative fixtures against Counties and Waikato. Mr Passau said that the union's management, committee would meet next week to appoint a successor to Mr Jones. The union has a fixture against the touring French club, Cote de Basque, on June 11, at Waihi.