Rugby: Blues trio at odds as relations turn sour

Luke McAlister. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Relationships between the Blues rugby partners have sunk to a low as they bicker over match arrangements, player payments, dividends and franchise venues for next season.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has also been dragged into the scrap because it has withdrawn the 75 per cent salary subsidy it used to pay for All Blacks who were unavailable during the national championship.

Officials from Auckland, North Harbour and Northland have asked why they should bother signing All Blacks when they are unlikely to have them for many provincial games next season.

In other scuffles:

* Auckland have refused Harbour's request to host a test against the Springboks, even though capacity at the remodelled Eden Park will be less next year than at Albany.

* The Blues are not playing a match in the Harbour or Northland regions next season.

* The Blues have told their franchise partners they will not get a dividend this season.

* Unions are pondering the merits of signing All Blacks when they are likely to have just Super 14 impact.

* Arguments continue that the franchise should have independent control from the start of Super 15 in 2011.

With their history of financial troubles, North Harbour officials have pondered the merits of signing All Blacks to their books.

They argue that prudent financial practice would be to pay them for any individual appearances in the sort of pro rata deal they have with Luke McAlister.

Test forwards Tony Woodcock and Anthony Boric are off contract several days before the All Black side is chosen this month and Harbour want to sign them to a minimum deal, arguing the rest of their salaries should be paid by the Blues, NZRU and other sponsors.

With Eden Park under reconstruction for the 2011 World Cup, Harbour wanted to host an All Black test next year at their Albany headquarters, where they argued they could attract a 30,000 crowd. They also said it would be a handy dress-rehearsal for their allocation of World Cup games.

However the Eden Park Trust Board threatened litigation because it said the NZRU had awarded Eden Park the test.

Even though it was suggested capacity at Eden Park might reach only 25,000 because of construction, administrators insisted on their right to host the test. Part of their argument was that any hosting concession would affect renewals from their season-ticket holders.

Attempts to reach administrators at the individual unions yesterday were unsuccessful. Greg Muir chairs the Blues board, which includes John Morgan, Andrew Golightly, Mike Budd, Grant Fox, Gary Whetton and Andy Dalton.

Meanwhile there have also been concerns delivered privately by World Cup officials that unless the Blues turn their fortunes around at Eden Park, the venue could become a major financial burden before the 2011 tournament.

Harbour, with their rugby-purpose ground, and Northland, with a revamped Okara Park, have been pushing for matches to be spread around the Blues region.

Harbour host infrequent matches while Northland are keen to host matches at their revamped Okara Park.

That arena will not be ready until the 2011 Super season though the Blues have offered to stage a pre-season game next year at Okara Park.

The Blues have finished eighth, fourth, sixth and ninth in the four seasons since former All Black captain Dalton took over as chief executive.

New coach Pat Lam took over this year with Shane Howarth as his assistant and that pair did not always gel with the team or the chief executive.

Dalton and Lam had some vigorous debates during the year and, apparently, ended up agreeing to some conditions after mediation talks about the coaching personnel and approach for next year.