Rugby: Union intercepts Spencer

By WYNNE GRAY

First five-eighths Carlos Spencer will play his rugby in New Zealand until after the next World Cup.

Spencer had been wooed by the wealthy Leicester club in England. For the past three months the New Zealand Rugby Union have been discussing with Spencer, his agent and Auckland whether they can counter the lucrative overseas offer.

The Herald understands that the Spencer saga has finally been sorted out and the NZRFU will announce this week that they have chosen to exercise their first right of refusal and sign him until the end of 2003.

And in a new development last night, the union removed a key impediment to overseas coaches such as Graham Henry and Brad Johnstone - currently with Wales and Italy respectively - returning to coach the All Blacks.

The Rugby Union have decided that coaches who have worked overseas can return and seek the All Blacks' job, as long as they are prepared to start no higher than NPC level first.

Union chairman Murray McCaw said the policy change was to provide a clear pathway for high-performance coaches, and to improve transparency on coaching appointments.

Chief executive David Rutherford added: "It is vital that if you are coaching the All Blacks, or another national representative team, you have a deep understanding of what is going on in the current domestic game."

During the summer, Leicester coach Dean Richards visited New Zealand looking for rugby talent.

He knew Spencer was recovering from surgery after his serious knee injury at the World Cup, but recommended his club hire the 24-year-old. Leicester later offered Spencer about $1.5 million to play three seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

Under the terms of his existing contract, Spencer had to give his rugby union employers the first right of refusal.

There were consistent difficulties and protracted negotiations, which appeared to have stalled several times.

However, the Herald believes union lawyer Steve Cottrell recently recommended to Rutherford that the deal with Spencer be signed.

Certainly, Spencer was included in the 25-strong Auckland squad announced yesterday, as was fullback Adrian Cashmore, who is also coming under serious pressure to take up an offer from Japan.

The NPC squad does not have veteran All Black lock Robin Brooke - as revealed in the Herald last week - while three other Super 12 players have been loaned to other unions. Jason Chandler goes to Bay of Plenty, Paul Mitchell to King Country and Samiu Vahafolau to Northland.

Tighthead prop David Morgan, one of Blues coach Gordon Hunter's unusual choices for this season, has been discarded. A prop playing club rugby in France, he was brought back for the Super 12 as an Auckland player, but has been ignored for the NPC and is back in France.

Flanker Mark Carter reappears after missing the Super 12 cut because of injury. He will compete with Finau Maka and Andrew Blowers for the openside job.

Auckland have trial matches against Canterbury on August 1 and Northland on August 5 before they begin their title defence on August 12, against Taranaki at Eden Park.

The squad will be trimmed to 22 for the Northland match and later, after the All Blacks' final Tri-Nations test in South Africa, prop Craig Dowd and wing Doug Howlett will be brought into the group.

Prop Paul Thomson has recovered from his knee problem to captain the side again, which includes new young players such as locks Bradley Mika and Tom Curtis with midfield backs Amasio Valence and Mils Muliana.

Auckland squad: Paul Thomson (capt), Nick White, Tonga Lea'eatoa, Keven Mealamu, James Christian, Leo Lafaiali'i, Charles Reichlemann, Tom Curtis, Bradley Mika, Mark carter, Andrew Blowers, Finau Maka, Dylan Miak, Xavier Rush, Steve Devine, Ben Meyer, Carlos Spencer, Orene Ai'i, Craig Innes, Amasio Valence, Iliesa Tanivula, Eroni Clarke, Mils Muliana, Rico Gear, Adrian Cashmore.