London club open for players

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 30

London club open for players

By TONY VERDON in London

The London New Zealand Rugby Club has boosted its chance of attracting top New Zealand players travelling to

Britain this year. It is the only rugby club in Britain to be granted dispensation from the 12-week ban imposed on players when transferring from one hemisphere to the other. Dozens of New Zealanders arriving in Britain each year join the club, which has its grounds in West London. The club’s fixture secretary, Mr Richard Peacock, said the dispensation had been granted by the English Rugby Football Union, and the New Zealand Rugby Union.

It acknowledged the club’s unique position of being so dependent on players from New Zealand, Australia and other Southern Hemisphere countries. “This*- 1 means that New

Zealanders, and Australians and South Africans, who arrive in England after having played in their own countries and do not wish to wait 12 weeks before playing, may play legally only for the London New Zealand Club,” said Mr Peacock.

The dispensation had greatly encouraged the club, which had not achieved the good results in the last two seasons it had in past years.

The club, however, was this year intent on maintaining a good position in the first division of the Middlesex leagues, and on making a determined bid for the Middlesex Cup this season.