Rugby: Luyt admits tapping of Mains' phone

JOHANNESBURG — Johannesburg-based former All Black coach Laurie Mains said last night he finds it hard to believe that the man who hired him as a coach in South Africa is now accusing him of conspiracy.

"I'm dumbfounded, it's unbelievable," Mains said after Louis Luyt admitted tapping the telephones of the now Golden Lions coach and the union's chief executive Johan Prinsloo.

Luyt is chairman of the Golden Lions, and the trust that runs Ellis Park the home ground of the Golden Lions.

The former South African Rugby Football Union president said he ordered a private security firm to tap the Ellis Park stadium telephones of Mains and Prinsloo after he became aware of a conspiracy that would have "seriously undermined the union".

Luyt did not give details of the alleged conspiracy, but said it would have seriously undermined both the stadium and the trust.

Mains said he was aware of minor rumblings in regard to players' salary and the possible sale of Ellis Park.

"There has been some minor conflict with Ellis Park, but to suggest a conspiracy is a total fabrication," he said.

"It is illegal (phone tapping) here."

Mains, 1992-95 All Black coach, guided the Lions to a double Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup victory last year.

Last night the Golden Lions players came out in support for Mains. They signed a statement saying the coach was not involved in anyway in their pay dispute.

Golden Lions Rugby Union president Jomo King and the players denied being involved in a conspiracy, although they admitted there were player-related grievances.

He declined to elaborate.

The Golden Lions players said both Prinsloo and Mains had acted in the best interests of the union and the players.

"The players hereby give their unequivocal support to Laurie Mains and the Golden Lions Rugby Union," they said in a statement.

Admitting that he ordered telephone taps, Luyt accused Mains, Prinsloo and former Springboks fly-half Hennie le Roux of being involved in a conspiracy that would have "seriously undermined the union".

His spokesman Jan Bosman said Luyt only ordered Mains' telephone to be tapped after he became convinced that the coach was involved in the conspiracy.

Luyt however admitted that he had also ordered Prinsloo's telephone to be tapped.

Prinsloo was angry last night, saying Luyt had acted illegally.

Luyt said information had been given to him by two independent sources that sensitive issues discussed at Ellis Park were being leaked to a third party.

"A process of elimination followed implicating only Mr Prinsloo. We approached a private security company to gather more information and their advice was to tap his phone," Luyt said.

"It is our considered opinion that this action was lawful."

Bosman said the matter was in the hands of Luyt's lawyers.

- NZPA