Rugby heavyweight Murray Mexted yesterday revealed to Masterton businesspeople his suspension from the SKY Television commentary team after publicly criticising plans to whittle down the Air New Zealand Cup pool.
Mr Mexted made the revelation while guest speaking a business breakfast, where he reiterated his worries about the New Zealand Rugby
Union's plans to cut the cup pool from 14 to 10 teams.
He told the 100 people gathered at the Copthorne Hotel that the move was "bloody tragic" and "short-sighted" and would make it harder for provincial players to achieve their potential in a country that was "envied" worldwide for its rugby talent.
He said that after criticising the NZRU on air recently, he received a letter from SKY's director of sport pointing out that the NZRU was a commercial partner of the network, and that he should "refrain from being critical".
Mr Mexted said he had been a commentator for 17 years and was cut from the commentary team for the weekend's final between Wellington and Canterbury.
However he said the move came at a time when he was keen to focus on his other commitments in rugby, namely running his pressure-cooker International Rugby Academy, which he presented a DVD on to the guests.
He said the twice yearly, three-week academy at Palmerston North was based at the "best purpose-built rugby academy in the world" and had helped groom the crème of New Zealand players, as well as other young talent from across the globe.
He was about to fly to Dubai, where plans for another academy have been mooted.
One success story had been Hawke's Bay star Israel Dagg, and when quizzed if Dagg's Wairarapa-born team mate and just-capped All Black Zac Guildford was another, Mr Mexted said Guildford had been enrolled, "but something happened".
"That's a shame, isn't it?" Mexted said.
When another guest asked if provinces like Wairarapa could provide more All Blacks, Mr Mexted replied; "Of course you will, if they retain the current structure".
Mr Mexted, who also acknowledged his one-time neighbour, Masterton councillor David Holmes, encouraged members of Masterton's major trusts to support promising young players by providing scholarships.
"If you'd done that six years ago, you could have six achievers if you'd selected good ones. I think it's a must-do if you care about your community and want to see young people achieving.
"If you can apply yourselves to give out scholarships to these people, I'd be delighted to come across."
