Rugby: Boe dodges `Henry clause' to become Samoa coach

By CHRIS RATTUE

John Boe has been appointed Manu Samoa's rugby coach in a deal which circumvents the so-called Henry rule, but there is already confusion over the length of his contract.

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union said Boe was "on loan" to Samoa for three months and remained on an NZRFU contract.

That meant he did not breach the controversial union rule that prevents other national coaches, like the former Blues and now Wales boss Graham Henry, coaching the All Blacks.

Boe will guide Samoa in the mid-year Pacific Rim tournament which includes Italy - ironically the team Boe rejected because of the Henry rule.

He is now in the remarkable position of coaching the under-19 side of one country - his New Zealand teams defends the world title in France next month - and the national team of another.

NZRFU chairman Rob Fisher denied the deal aimed to beat the Henry clause, but would not speculate on the stance should Samoa want Boe to stay.

But the chairman of the Samoa Rugby Football Union, the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, immediately contradicted the New Zealand union. He told the Herald from Apia that Boe's appointment was for a year.

"It is not my understanding that the appointment is for three months. I believe it is for much longer. I believe it is for 12 months," Tuilaepa said.

He said a one-year appointment might seem unusually short for a test side, but it gave "flexibility." If Boe was successful, they would probably ask him to stay.

Manu Samoa Rugby Ltd, the commercial arm funded by Fay Richwhite, said Boe won the job "under a special arrangement."

The Samoan union's statement did not specify the length of Boe's contract, something Tuilaepa was quick to point out. The union's chief, Michelle Boag, was in Honolulu yesterday and could not be contacted.

Boe turned down a rich deal to coach Italy after missing out on top Super 12 jobs. The former Waikato coach and Chiefs assistant will continue to turn down jobs which wreck his New Zealand hopes.

Boe referred Samoa's approach two weeks ago to the NZRFU.

He said: "It's a great honour but I made it clear that I still had to retain my New Zealand ties and the under-19s. I left it up to them. I don't want to get involved in the politics."

Meanwhile, Fisher said the Henry and Boe cases were "worlds apart."

A clause in Boe's NZRFU contract included the possibility of assignments to developing countries, as encouraged by the International Rugby Board.

"Graham removed himself from his New Zealand contract for a job in Wales for five years on the other side of the world. John is on loan for three months and remains on contract," Fisher said.

"I know there are cynics about. It did cross our minds that people would compare the two, but it is very different."