Haden defends fund

Press, 14 October 1986, Page 36

Haden defends fund

PA Auckland The Cavalier team fund in South Africa was no greater than those on official All Black tours, according to the former All Black lock, Andy Haden. Haden said on. his return from Fiji, where hie had been with the Auckland rugby team, that he was alarmed at reports of a six-figure fund. The New Zealand Rugby Union had been assured the fund was in line with those on All Black tours, he said. "People seem to think that I have said the team fund is $lOO,OOO. That is not so. “I went to great lengths not to reveal the size of the fund. That is never revealed on any

All Black tour. “All I was doing was responding to comments supposed to have been made by Colin Meads (the coach of the Cavaliers).” Mr Meads, quoted in “The Times” in London as saying that the fund “reached six figures in rand terms,” later denied saying the Cavaliers had received monetary payment in South Africa. Haden said: "All I said was in response to reports that Meads had stated the fund was six figures. “I said I did not think that was an exorbitant amount anyway for 30 guys over 10 weeks. But I did not say it was $lOO,OOO/’