Union Dismisses Unfairness Claims
7th July 2009 12:00PM
Courtesy of Evan Pegden, WAIKATO TIMES.
Waikato Rugby Union CEO Graham Bowen has dismissed Fraser-Tech's claims they were unfairly treated by the release and non-release of representative players for a key club rugby match in Hamilton on Saturday.
Bowen said only two players from each of the Fraser-Tech and Hautapu sides were withdrawn from club rugby for that day Sam Christie and Dominiko Waqaniburotu for Tech and Jackson Willison and Matt Blain for Hautapu.
Miscommunication appeared to have been behind Roimata Hansell-Pune telling Tech coach Nick Holten on Friday night he had been withdrawn, Bowen said.
Fraser-Tech chairman/president Colin Mitchell told the Times on Saturday there had not been the promised even treatment of teams with all five of Tech's training squad members unable to play while three Hautapu players plus All Black Liam Messam had been released.
Hansell-Pune was today named at second-five for Waikato in the first pre-season game of the year against North Harbour at Massey tomorrow.
Bowen said Hansell-Pune had not been made unavailable for club play and that he had got the message wrong saying he was not allowed to play. Apart from those two officially withdrawn from each side, other players did not play due to injury or illness.
"I'm pretty disappointed that (Fraser-Tech chairman) Colin (Mitchell) would say that the union was trying to balance up the suspensions of two Hautapu players... it's a bit of a slur on the union," Bowen said.
The original XV named last Tuesday had been withdrawn from club rugby, but changes to that team had been forced.
"Liam Messam was never our decision. It was a New Zealand decision to make him available. In my opinion Liam was the difference between the two teams on the day," Bowen said.
Two players from each side, who did play in Saturday's Elliot Park club match Latu Talakai and Glen Robertson from Tech and Ole Avei and Kent Fife from Hautapu will start for Waikato tomorrow in the 3.30pm match at Moire Park.
WAIKATO
Sosene Anesi, Henry Speight, Jackson Willison, Roimata Hansell-Pune, Glen Robertson, Sam Christie, Josh Sutherland, Alex Bradley, Matt Blain, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Mark Burman, Kent Fife, Nathan White, Ole Avei, Latu Talakai. Res: Nick Seymour, Kieran Ramage, Mike Moore, Kevin O'Neill, Jordan Smiler, Jack Lam, David Bason, Maurice Stone, Frank Halai.
