Rugby: Eligibility row overshadows Bay semifinal

Poverty Bay rugby coach Kiwi Searancke is taking the latest investigation over player eligibility in his stride.

"It's not the ideal preparation and it's disappointing that all this stuff is coming out now," said Searancke after learning that the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are investigating centre James Kerr.

"But our whole focus is on this weekend's semifinal -- and winning it."

Poverty Bay are hosting Horowhenua-Kapiti in a third division semifinal in Gisborne on Saturday.

The NZRU has appointed Wellington QC Bruce Squire, sitting as a subcommittee of the NZRU board, to look into the case.

"With Poverty Bay playing this weekend, we'll be asking for the investigation to be carried out as quickly as possible," said NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew.

Searancke said the union had acted in good faith regarding NPC rules concerning players and made sure all the paperwork was in place.

"We were investigated earlier in the season concerning our Pacific Island players but completely cleared. Everything was in order.

"Now it's been discovered there is an issue concerning James' (Kerr) classification as a club player. If a mistake has been made it was a genuine one and we'll live with the outcome."

Poverty Bay was yesterday cleared by the NZRU in response to concerns raised by King Country over the eligibility of Pacific Islands players who had played for Poverty Bay this year.

Tew said King Country chief executive Ox Wightman had subsequently raised an issue around the eligibility of former Poverty Bay rep Kerr, who played on the wing for Taranaki in the NPC first division in 2002 and 2003.

Searancke said he was surprised to hear the news about Kerr given that when he agreed to play for the Bay in July it was headline news.

"But it's up to the NZRFU now. My job is to prepare a team for Saturday.

"It's not been the greatest of weeks off-field what with losing Vili for the weekend and now this but that's life. You deal with it and get on with it and that's what we are doing with this latest investigation."

Poverty Bay yesterday lost the services of star winger Viliame Waqaseduadua with a thigh injury but Searancke said that while he would be missed the team won and scored 50 points without him at the weekend.

"I've been in the game a long time and you often find when one player drops out another steps up."

- NZPA