RUGBY FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EAST COAST UNION DISPUTE WITH NEPIA MATTER settled (Herald Correspondent.) A meeting of the management committee oi tlie East Coast Rugby Union was held last Thursday. Those present were Messrs. H. T. Reedy, W. Prince, 1». Whuipooti, G. V. H. Rickard, W. Lockwood, J. Oates, G. W. Staiuton, and A. W. Krk. A reply from the New Zealand Rugby Union refusing tlie reinstatement of W. To -Whata was read, and after considerable discussion it was decided that a further application should be made. It was also decided that a letter of thanks should be sent to the Rodeo Club for its assistance towards the tour next season. The position of G. Nepia was also considered, Mr. 11. T. Reedy vacating the chair, which was taken hy Mr. W. Lockwood. The previous discussion was outlined, and Nepia replied that no 0110 was appointed by the union to look after the team while in camp at Mangahamea, but Mr. ,I’oannnga assisted there. He stated further that he selected tlie team, showing no favoritism. When the unsound men played in the trials they showed no injuries. How was it, he asked, that the union was not notified by the trainer that these players were injured? Nepia stated also that the charges were unfounded and alleged that they were brought by the Tolaga Bay sub-union as there were only two players selected to travel from that subunion. He gave no player instructions to leave the team at Napier. If lie had known that tiiis was going io happen, he would not have selected this player and, in any case, the manager should liiivc kept the player with the team until the end of the (our.

In explaining his failure to travel with the team he selected, Nepia stated that the boy who looked after the farm when he went away was ill, and this frustrated any hope he had to travel. Mr. Reedy said that the remit from tlie Tolaga Bay sub-union was carried by a large majority of six votes to twoMr. Oates thought that the union was hasty in coming to its decision without giving Nepia an opportunity to appear. He felt an injustic chad been done, and proposed that the following apology be made to Nepia:—'“We, the East Coast Union, do apologise to Mr. G. Nepia in being so hasty in dispensing with his services as selector and condemning him on the charges brought without giving him a hearing.” This was seconded by Mr. G. Staiuton. Nepia also withdrew bis statement

“that lie would not don an East Coast jersey as long as Mr. 11. T. Reedy was chairman of the union.” He thanked the union for its apology and stated that they could now go forward with the confidence necessary, although it was only through the persuasion of Mr. Rickard that he’ had kept playing/ A vote of thanks to the acting-chairman, Mr. W. Lockwood, ended the meeting. It is anticipated that next season will see the Coast fielding an exceedingly strong team/ '*- * * “ ‘