N.Z. Union unlikely to pressure top players

Press, 10 September 1983, Page 64

N.Z. Union unlikely to pressure top players

PA Auckland The New Zealand Rugby Union is unlikely to follow the lead of the English Rugby Union in placing what the professional rugby promoter, David Lord, described yesterday as “unbelievable" pressure on top players to remain amateurs. The Australian sports entrepreneur was commenting on the English body’s approach to its 120 top players asking them to declare formally that they have no intention of joining his proposed enterprise. A form and a covering letter was sent to the players, saying that any man who did not make the pledge by the end of this month would not be considered for the England team.

“This is an unbelievable move,” said Mr Lord. “For over 100 years they haven’t shown much loyalty to players — now the crunch is on they’re expecting loyalty from these self-same players.”, Mr Lord added that in recruiting his players he had not been “pointing a gun at anyone’s head.” In Wellington yesterday, the N.Z.R.U. chairman, Ces Blazey, said his union was unlikely to follow the English union’s example: “We haven’t contemplated doing anything like that and I have no reason to believe the union will do so,” he said.

While saying that there was a need to accept that professional rugby might

happen, Mr Blazey was sceptical about Lord’s circus going ahead. “You can’t play unless you have a ground on which to play,” he said. “Even if he (Lord) had Carlaw Park, where else would he play,” said Mr Blazey. “Then one must have doubts in light of the continued delays. “Originally it was said that the players involved would be announced after the Lions tour. Then it changed to after the New Zealand-Australian test. Another report carried the announcement date to November and now he’s talking about January. “It’s very difficult to know what’s going to happen.” Commenting on the pledge being sought by the English union, Mr Blazey said the New Zealand union was in a different situation. The home unions were entering their domestic season and would not want the Five Nation championship, which begins in January, jeopardised by an exodus of plSyers, he said. Mr Blazey reiterated that any New Zealand player genuinely interested in the proposed professional rugby scheme should read any papers he is asked to sign extremely carefully so he is well aware what he is letting himself in for. “I don’t believe any New Zealand player would not be fully aware of the situation . and implications of the professional scheme.”