Kiwi’s abrupt departure upsets Hornby club

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 68

Kiwi’s abrupt departure upsets Hornby club

JOHN COFFEY

By J

Ross Taylor, the New Zealand rugby league test forward, had some good and bad news for supporters of his Hornby club before his departure this morning to begin a profesional career in England. The unfavourable news, of course, was his nonavailability for the Lion Red national knockout tournament which begins for Hornby with a match against Omahu Huias (Hawke’s Bay) at the Addington Show Grounds on Sunday. On a happier note, Taylor said last evening that he had agreed to return to Hornby for the next two New Zealand seasons. By doing so, he rejected an offer to transfer to Wellington.

Taylor’s temporary clearance from the New Zealand Rugby League allows him to play for Hull Kingston Rovers in the British first division between October 12 (the day after the Lion Red final) and next March 31. “Hull KR is aware that I can’t play until next month, but the officials asked me to go over early to acclimatise, to get to know the guys and train with the team,” said Taylor.

A fractured hand, suffered during Hornby’s club championship loss to Halswell, threatened Taylor’s, plans and would have caused doubt as to his availability for at least the first Lion Red fixture.

"It feels pretty good now that the strapping is

off. But it would have been a risk not to give it a rest.”

Taylor is eager to make a good impression in his debut at Hull and obtain an invitation back for the 1988-89 northern winter.

Equally uppermost in his intentions is to retain his recently-won test front-row role so that he will qualify for a full overseas clearance after the Kiwis tour Britain and France in 1989. “I’m not worried about playing all year round. To me, it’s a state of mind. “People go to work every day of the week, every week of the year without going too stale. Football will be my work — and the hours are shorter,” he said. Both the Hornby coach, Frank Endacott, and

president, Peter Tongue, expressed disappointment at Taylor’s abrupt departure.

“Ross didn’t make official contact with our executive regarding his plans,” said Mr Tongue. “I understand he was staying until Hornby was through with the Lion Red tournament.

“The club takes the Lion Red very seriously. We have won as much as we can in Canterbury and our ultimate aim is to win the Lion Red.

“Because he is leaving early we might have to reconsider the terms of Ross’s agreement with us this year. But we will welcome him back in 1988 — on the understanding he stays the whole season,” said Mr. Tongue.