Five unions fined over player-eligibility breaches

3.20pm

The NZRU has fined five provincial unions over player-eligibility breaches.

The biggest fine of $6500 was imposed on Southland while East Coast were fined $3500 and lost an NPC competition point.

The NZRU today released findings of five inquiries into player-eligibility breaches in the NPC first and second divisions.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said the inquiries were carried out by Auckland lawyer Chris Morris, sitting as a subcommittee of the NZRU board.

The East Coast union has been fined $3500 and its team will lose one competition point in the second division standings.

Four other provincial unions -- Southland, Counties-Manukau, Hawke's Bay and Nelson Bays -- were fined sums ranging from $1350 to $6500 for various breaches of NZRU regulations relating to NPC player-eligibility.

In another, separate case, the Bay of Plenty union was last month fined $3000 for fielding an ineligible player in their successful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Auckland.

"It is disappointing that so many breaches have been identified but the integrity of our competitions depends on the provincial unions adhering to player eligibility regulations and we will continue to monitor compliance," Tew said.

He said inquiries were done as a result of routine player registration compliance checks.

In the most serious case, Southland breached the regulations in respect to three players -- Craig McMullen, Jeff Wright and Graeme Frith -- in the first-round first division match against Waikato.

Waikato won the match and Morris indicated that had Southland received any competition points from that match he would have deducted them.

East Coast breached the rules in their match against Marlborough. East Coast lost the game but received a bonus point for losing by less than seven points. Morris ruled that the bonus point be deducted.

NPC breaches and fines:

Southland: fined $6500 for not ensuring the NZRU received a valid international clearance for player Craig McMullen; not getting prior written consent for loan players Jeff Wright and Graeme Frith.

East Coast: fined $3500 and lost one bonus point for not ensuring the NZRU received valid international clearances for players Marty Lloyd and Roger Chappell.

Nelson Bays: fined $3500 for not ensuring the NZRU received a valid international clearance for player Isikeli Ratulevu.

Counties-Manukau: fined $2000 for not ensuring the NZRU received valid international clearances for players Julian Vulakoro and Sisa Koyamaibole.

Hawke's Bay: fined $1350 for not ensuring the NZRU received a valid international clearance for player Nasoni Rokobiau.

- NZPA

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