Wilson ‘points the finger’

Press, 3 November 1983, Page 38

Wilson ‘points the finger’

NZPA London The All Black captain, Stu Wilson, believes the New Zealand Rugby Union should be prepared to pull out of the International Board if its current proposals for financial help to players are rejected. Wilson, at present leading the All Blacks on a short tour of England and Scotland, told London’s evening newspaper the “Standard’’ that rugby authorities should not take it for granted that players were prepared to tonr and receive “miserable” financial assistance. The All Black captain said he was not optimistic

that David Lord’s planned professional rugby circus would eventuate “while I’m still playing.” "But,” he added, “even if his plans don’t materialise it will happen through someone, sometime, because I’m certain that rugby is marketable. , “Can you imagine the present amateur set-up still existing in the year 2000?” Wilson emphasised that New Zealand deserved credit for looking closely at the present tangle: “But don’t Jet’s just blame the International Board if they turn down our proposals next March,” he added. “Instead I would point the finger at our New Zealand

officials for not pulling out, and going their own way as both France and Australia have done in the past. “This year even athletics, which is supposed to be the No. 1 sport of the ‘amateur’ Olympics, has shown the way.” Wilson was a member of a New Zealand Rugby Union sub-cOmmittee which has been looking into possible financial allowances for international players. New Zealand has asked the International Board to allow players to continue their careers — perhaps in a special competition or even as coaches —■ after accepting payment for books.