Mr Blazey may resign from union

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 4

Mr Blazey may resign from union

PA Wellington The rugby union chairman, Mr Ces Blazey, the figurehead of the sport in its stormiest era, is expected to announce his decision to resign at the union’s council meeting today. Mr Blazey, aged 76, last evening refused to discuss the possibility that he will step down at the next annual meeting in May. Y ‘Everybody seems to be guessing, but I’ll inform council at the appropriate time,” he said. The Wellington widower has been chairman of the union council since 1977, leading it through the trauma of the 1981 Springbok tour, and the upset caused by the scrapping of the All Black tour of South Africa this year. He has spent 29 years on the executive of the national body, acting recently as a full-time, unpaid executive. His resignation, if it comes today, will leave time for lobbying before the annual

meeting, at which a new chairman'will be selected. The resignation of the retired insurance executive and former Army officer will leave a gap, however. Leading candidates to replace Mr Blazey are Mr Bob Stuart, a former All Black captain and Mr Blazey’s deputy on the International Rugby Board, and Mr Russ Thomas, of Canterbury, a former All Black manager with proven administrative skills. The chairman of the union’s seven-man executive usually comes from Wellington, but there is no essential residential requirement. Other matters before today’s meeting include a letter from South African Rugby Board chairman, Dr Dame Craven, and electing new coaching personnel. So far, no nominations have been received for the North Island selection posts vacated by Messrs George Simpkin and Cfolin Meads. ’