Rugby Union clears Mexted

Press, 8 April 1988, Page 30

Rugby Union clears Mexted

PA I j Wellington The former All Black No. 8, Murray Mexted, was cleared of breaching rugby’s amateur regulations last evening.

a| meeting of the Zealand Rugby Football Union administration committee gaye Melted the I green light after) he produced evidence that he had not breached) the amateur laws. Mexted, Bernie Fraser, John Ashworth] and Gary Knight were suspended on February 24 for allegedly accepting royalties from books they wrote. ) However, Knight [and Mexted appealed against their suspensions. ) Mexted played for) his club Tawa against University) in Wellington after being given a tempcirary clearance on Wednesday. "After full inquiry into alleged breach of the amateur regulations by Mr). M. G. this player has provided acceptable evidence to the inquiry committee that he was not in breach of the regulations. ‘{And the administrative committee acting under delegated powers from the), council has advised Mr! Mexted of I this clearance of all charges and he is now entitled to participate in the game.” the) N.Z.R.F.U. chairman, Mrj Russell Thomas, said. Knight’s case is yet to be {decided. | | ) ‘{We are still discussing it [and it will not 1 be decided until later in the week,” Mr Thomas said. IWexted is n)ow entitled to participate as a player, coach, selector, organiser Or administrator of a club or union. | • Opinions on the new 12 week stand down ruling introduced by! the International Rugby Board at its last meeting

will be sought from three former Taranaki All Blacks. , Members at the Taranaki Union management committee meeting agreed that the union’s senior vice-president Mr Peter Burke (New Plymouth) should meet three of the province’s seasoned rugby travellers ) Kieran Crowley, Dave Loveridge and Graham Mourie. A meeting with the trio could result in some positive opinions to put. to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, Mr j Robert Wolfe (Eltham) said.' “This ruling has not been well thought lout and we; should get right into it if possible,” he said. The ruling interfered with players’ private lives, Mr Burke said. ■! | | There was a greater number of New Zealand plhyers travelling overseas than from any other country, the chairman, Mr Leo Walsh (New Plymouth) said. j“A lot of 1 1.R.8. decisions are against New

Zealand players,” he said. “The board has to give thought as to how professional this game can become,” said Mr Walsh. The N.Z.R.F.U. should investigate the possibility of another world body, the deputy chairman, Mr Neil McLean, (Hawera) said. • The Pontypool lock, Kevin Moseley, will make a return to New Zealand as a late addition to the Welsh rugby side in May and June. Moseley, aged 25, played for Bay of Plenty two years ago, the Cardiff newspaper the “Western Mail” said yesterday after Moseley’s selection was announced. The 2.01 m (6ft 7in) tall and 17st 101 b (112.50 kg second row specialist takes the twenty-sixth and final place in the tour party. Many pundits in Wales were expecting the selectors to opt for a player who could also fill a back row position but they came up with a lock forward who has yet to be capped at the top level for his country. Moseley played three times for Wales B against France between 1984 and 1986 and also made an impact on the B tour to Italy two years ago, the "Western Mail” said. However, it was widely expected that Richard Moriarty, a lock and back row forward who captained Wales to third place in the World Cup last year, could win the last place in the tour party after spending the Five Nations tournament on the outer.