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A proposal from ex-All Black Billy Bush and Jona Lomu's former manager Phil Kingsley Jones to arrange a tour for the New Zealand Maori squad has been rejected by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
That's because the rugby union says to allow a third party control over the team could compromise relationships with commercial partners and other international unions.
Last year the NZRU, worried about worsening global economic conditions, decided to sideline the Maori, Heartland 15 and Black Ferns programmes - saving $1 million. A rider to that decision was that if another international union footed the bill for the team, NZ Maori might still be able to tour.
Last month Mr Bush asked NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs if the union would approve a venture run by Mr Kingsley Jones to help the team get on the field this year. Mr Bush claims that an initial conversation with Mr Hobbs was encouraging, but further correspondence reveals confusion about the arrangements under which a tour might happen.
"I was under the impression from our conversation that you had a
sponsorship proposal for our consideration. This seems not to be the case. If you and Parker Kingsley Jones Limited are seeking some sort of authority/mandate from the NZRU to seek out sponsorship and/or event manage the NZ Maori Team, then please understand that you do not have it," Mr Hobbs wrote.
"We have employees, appointed agents outside of New Zealand and the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board who carry out this function."
That response has annoyed Mr Bush. If another party was willing to take on the financial risk then why wouldn't the union "go for it"? he said. "This is a lifeline for Maori rugby. What's the problem here? I can't really understand their reasoning - let's just get on with it."
Yesterday, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said arranging a tour wasn't a simple matter. Account had to be taken of the international calender, which players were eligible and if it was appropriate for them to be playing. In regards to the Maori team that was a role solely for the NZRU.
"We already have commercial partners - we can't work against
any of those relationships and in
that regard we can't ascribe the ability for just anybody to be out in the market talking about touring or sponsorship."
Discussions were under way with several nations for potential fixtures but nothing solid had eventuated yet, Mr Tew said.
Mr Kingsley Jones said there had been interest expressed from the UK and South Africa. While he was "disappointed" by the union's stance, he was happy to accept it.
