Shamateurism scandal Rugby riches to be found in Europe

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 16

Shamateurism scandal Rugby riches to be found in Europe

By

JOHN COFFEY

The involvement of New Zealand and South African players in an Italian rugby union “shamateurism” scandal this week should have been no surprise to the sport’s officials in this country. For some years there have been annual minimigrations of New Zealanders linking up with clubs in France and Italy, to the extent that some administrators have expressed alarm that departing players have been leaving their New Zealand teams in the lurch in their haste to get to Europe. Now the New Zealand Rugby Union is to seek “an immediate explanation” from its Italian counterpart concerning comments by the president of an Italian club, Benetton Treviso, that it was paying $40,000 a time to import footballers.

Craig Green, the All Black and Canterbury wing, and a Springbok, De Villiers Visser, have been "guest players” with the club this northern winter. Green was not available for much of Canterbury’s 1987 representative programme.

The imprudent Treviso president, Arrigo Mavanello, was quoted by the London “Sunday Times” as saying the $40,000 was made up of “plane tickets, accommo-

dation, a job, use of a car and some pocket money.” Prominent rugby union officials have been turning a blind eye to such occurrences on the Continent for at least two decades. Even 50 years ago France was banished from the sport’s international body because of widespread professionalism and violence. Not too much has changed since its readmission. The French, in their inimitable style, have long had a peculiar disregard for the laws of amateurism. They can be more subtle than, say, the Welsh, who have frequently been accused of stuffing pound notes into players’ boots. Back in 1971, for example, a young Auckland rugby union midfield back of no great repute sought out the touring New Zealand rugby league team in Albi, mainly to “talk Kiwi” with his countrymen. He brought with him a remarkable tale of how his French rugby union club was “protecting” his amateur status.

The club sponsor had become a wealthy man from his ownership of a chain of department stores. Every so often the Auckland recruit would be the recipient of a

“gift” from the generous patron. Not francs, not directly anyway. Two or three fine performances or favourable results would lead to the Aucklander having his' name tagged to an item on sale in one of the sponsor’s stores. When “his” refrigerator or armchair was purchased by a customer, the money would be passed on to the player. French and Italian clubs seek New Zealand and South African players in the manner that New Zealand softball and basketball officials look to the United States for recruits. But not always. JeanMarc Bourret, a centre who scored all three French tries in the twotest series against the

1980 rugby league Kiwis, "turned amateur” three weeks later. It seems that the resulting outcry from English publications prevented France from using Bourret at international level. The French and Italians are importing their footballers in increasing numbers. Travelling with a rugby league supporters group on yet another Kiwi tour to France in 1985, one could meet up with Glyn Meads and Mark Basham in a Toulouse supermarket, or chat with a South African fly-half at, of all places, Lourdes. Their main complaints were language difficulties and a lack of activity between week-end matches. The Italian federation’s reply to the N.Z.R.U. request for information on the latest scandal is awaited with interest, though much will no doubt be lost in the translation. Previous disclosures involving Britons have been quickly swept aside by the Home Unions. Outsiders can hardly be blamed at displaying amazement when . rugby union authorities place hands upon hearts and swear to an amateur code while earnestly processing clearances to dozens of players winging their way to lucrative terms with clubs in Europe.