Auckland’s rugby stand

Press, 25 November 1981, Page 48

Auckland’s rugby stand

PA Wellington Auckland has refused to play its 1982 national rugby championship fixture any time except in September when it would automatically become Wellington’s eighth Rahfury Shield defence. The Wellington union has received a letter from its Auckland counterpart rejecting the proposed date for their championship match — Saturday, June 12. Auckland says that because of changes to its club competition and the wish not to play any championship matches before the middle of August it cannot play Wellington at any time other than in mid or late September. Under the rules of the

Ranfury Shield any match between July and September played at home by the shield holder automatically becomes a challenge for the coveted trophy. Auckland’s stand comes only a few weeks after Wellington announced the acceptance of seven shield defences in 1982. Auckland was not one of the seven and its chairman, Mr Ron Don, expressed his dismay at the refusal of the shield bid. The Wellington union’s management committee will consider the matter at a meeting next Tuesday. Agreement is a matter of urgency . because the New Zealand Rugby Union fix-

tures meeting, at which all championship and other representative match dates are set, will be held in Wellington just two days later. If the two unions cannot agree the N.Z.R.U. may have to be asked to adjudicate on a matter which threatens to further sour relations between the Auckland and Wellington unions. Wellington’s argument for keeping the June date is strong. It has already announced its shield programme, and its coach, lan Upston, is adamant that seven challenges are plenty when it is considered a handful of his players are likely to be involved in the Wallaby test series in August and September.

Wellingtonians don’t need to think very far back to the last time Auckland proved unhelpful over championship match dates. In 1979 Wellington pleaded with Auckland to change the date for their championship match because it was being played the day after the Jubilee Cup club final. Auckland refused. Rugby people in Wellington see the present situation as simply Auckland reacting in an unsporting manner to not being granted a shield challenge. “If they insist on the September date we could go and play the match at Levin or some other neutral venue,” suggested one administrator.