Rugby great in race row

New Zealand-born Samoan Robbie Fruean - from Wellington - celebrates a try with Crusaders captain Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's top rugby boss has cast doubt on Andy Haden's role as a World Cup ambassador after the All Black great said the Crusaders franchise had a maximum quota for "darkies".

Haden's claim about a racial quota - and that the Auckland-based Blues team suffer from a religious divide - sparked angry responses from both franchises and the national body.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew last night questioned Haden's suitability as one of six World Cup ambassadors.

"The decision to employ those ambassadors was the minister's [Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully]. "Those comments might make one reconsider that appropriateness," Mr Tew said.

A spokesman for Mr McCully said the minister had seen only a brief outline of the comments and would not talk publicly about them until today.

Last month, Mr McCully said there were "no better ambassadors for our country" than Haden and five other All Black legends, who would help with and attend promotional events for next year's World Cup.

The others are Jonah Lomu, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan, David Kirk and Andrew Mehrtens.

Haden sparked the storm by suggesting on the Deaker on Sport TV show that the Crusaders limited the number of non-European players they took from outside their boundaries.

"Once they've recruited three, that's it. That's their ceiling. Three darkies - no more," he said.

"In the Crusaders' manual, there it is, it's enshrined in their articles, and they've stuck by that. And they know damn well that that's the case."

Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach and Mr Tew denied the claims.

"It's completely untrue," Mr Riach said.

"It's preposterous, it's bizarre, it's outrageous. It's a complete fabrication. There is no quota, no system that selects players on the basis of their race."

Rugby records suggest the Crusaders have often had more than three non-white players from outside their borders.

In 2006, Tony Koonwaiyou, Tanerau Latimer, Ross Filipo, Bradley Mika and Kevin Senio, all Maori or Pacific Islanders, were recruited from outside the Crusaders' catchment.

Mr Tew said he spent six years as Crusaders CEO, and if Haden's allegations referred to the time he was there, "I would refute them and say they were insulting. There was never any selection criterion other than the best players."

He said Haden "often makes comments that have no foundation in fact. They are inflammatory and made for effect."

Haden also took a swing at the Blues franchise, saying somebody should give coach Pat Lam a call "and say maybe there's a religious dominance in his side".

Last night, Haden said it was more accurate to call it a "religious divide".

Lam, a former All Black, said the claims were nonsense.

"The whole selection process is very thorough. Religion, colour, race, none of it comes into it whatsoever."

Every team was selected solely to get the best players.

He did not think any non-churchgoer would find the Blues an uncomfortable environment.

"I was involved in the Samoan team and that [religion] was part of the culture of the team. On a scale of one to 10, Samoa was 10 and the Blues are about a three."

Haden, who played 41 tests as a lock for the All Blacks between 1977 and 1985, last night stood by his comments.

He said he had heard of the Crusaders' quota from more than one franchise insider, but would not divulge his sources. He backed down on the suggestion it was enshrined, but said it was an unwritten rule.

"The reason I put it out there ... it required debate."

He had spoken to the Blues board about the religious divisions, but it did not believe there was a problem.

"Any division, any split - if you don't have harmony, you don't get results."

Haden said Mr Tew had nothing to do with the World Cup ambassadorship, and questioned on what grounds he could be removed.

"Mate, if it's based on what I've said, do I want it? They know I have opinions on different things. At the end of the day, I don't scare easily."