Exclusive: Leading Auckland rugby club in poaching row

Rifles Team huddle ahead of a match against Waitemata in 2020. Photo / Photosport

Auckland rugby club College Rifles has been accused of breaking the strict amateur ethos of the grassroots game by allegedly luring an under-21 player from a rival club with what has been described as a "substantial" amount of money written into an official two-year contract.

The controversy surrounding College Rifles, based in the wealthy suburb of Remuera, has shone a light on the alleged practice of recruiting players via offers of cash which breaches Auckland Rugby's club rules.

It has sent frustrations rising throughout the Auckland club scene, with one insider telling the Herald, "it's massive", adding: "Rifles isn't the only club..."

No one from Auckland Rugby or College Rifles would comment directly on the case, with the ARU sending a two-paragraph statement to the Herald which read: "Auckland Rugby is proud of the work it does to help facilitate over 10,000 games of rugby a year for its 22,000 participants. All clubs in Auckland are bound by the Club Rugby Participation Agreement which makes it clear that no club can provide material benefit to any player for their participation in rugby.

"If such a breach were to occur, or an allegation was made that it had occurred, a process would be entered into between Auckland Rugby and that club. That process would be confidential."

Despite a lack of Gallaher Shield success, College Rifles has a reputation in club circles for wielding outsized influence, with several former players remaining in the game as administrators, including current Auckland Rugby chief executive Jarrod Bear.

Their men's premier team are sitting on top of the table heading into Saturday's crunch match, their last of the regular season, against Grammar Tec, who are third.

The Herald understands College Rifles' alleged breach came to light after an Eden player left the club for Rifles following this year's pre-season, only to indicate that he wanted to return to Eden a few games into the season proper. When the coaches asked for a guarantee he would stay, the player is said to have sent a photo of his Rifles contract which was allegedly typed on the club's official letterhead.

An Auckland rugby insider who is familiar with the case but who didn't want to be identified for fear of repercussions for him and his club said the value of the contract was "a substantial amount of money for a 21-year-old".

Two unconnected sources claimed that as a result, College Rifles' director of rugby JP Fa'amausili was no longer in his role. The Herald has been unable to confirm this, as a call to Fa'amausili's phone number listed on the club's website was answered by an individual (not Fa'amausili), who told the Herald to talk to chairman Martin Smithson. Smithson did not respond to the Herald's invitation for comment.

When asked about the case, Eden Rugby Club chairman Phil Cullen said: "I'm not in a position to comment on that at the moment."

Auckland Rugby declined to answer several specific questions on the matter, including what sanctions would be handed down if the breach was proven.

It is accepted in club circles that the College Rifles' under-21s have been or will be docked eight competition points and that the men's premier team have been or will be given a suspended sentence of four docked competition points and a fine of $15,000.

For those involved in Auckland clubs without the financial backing of those such as Rifles, the poaching allegations, if true, mean that they face an almost impossible battle to compete for players and titles.

"It's massively frustrating. This is grassroots rugby and it's not a level playing field. Obviously, if we're trying to recruit and retain players and you have a club offering money then we're always going to lose to those kinds of clubs and it becomes an expectation for kids coming out of school and that sets a pretty bad precedent," the club insider claims.

"Rifles isn't the only club... Everyone knows what's happening. We all know there are players being paid.

"There are other clubs that probably don't want to speak about it because their backyard isn't that clean either."

Rumours of other incentives across Auckland club rugby are common, including allegations of offers of cars and payment of tertiary fees to recruit school leavers. It means clubs in less financially stable positions, including those in South Auckland such as Manukau Rovers and Otahuhu, are being increasingly left behind.

The College Rifles men's premier team have won 10 of their 11 games this season. Manukau Rovers, who celebrate their 125th anniversary this weekend, have won two, while Otahuhu have lost all 11.