Arlidge ruled out as ring-in

By CHRIS RATTUE

Some Southland fans may be incensed at Northland's attempts to line Aucklander James Arlidge up against them on Sunday, but their union is taking a low-key approach to the controversy.

Arlidge was a star for Northland as a loan player last year, but Auckland scrapped its loan policy this season.

However, Auckland were prepared to release Arlidge - after he played for Auckland B against Wellington B tomorrow night - to bottom-placed Northland as they seek victory in Invercargill to try to avoid going into the promotion-relegation game.

Northland have lost first five-eighth Regan Finch, on loan from Marlborough, to an elbow injury. They wanted to start captain Hayden Taylor - better known as a fullback - at first five-eighths on Sunday, with Arlidge on the bench.

But after first giving approval, the NZRU realised the Arlidge deal was breaking a NPC rule brought in this season.

Southland manager Murray Heath said he had been inundated with telephone calls and messages from Stags fans, angered by the Arlidge issue.

But Southland chief executive Roger Clark said: "Our attitude was that if it's within the rules, okay, and if it's not, then it's not.

"We're more interested in what we have to do this week rather than worrying about what Northland are doing."

Unions have until round four to recruit up to six loan players.

After that they can only get further loan players to replace injured loan players.

However, they cannot recruit anyone who has already played for another side that season in the NPC, which is why Northland cannot play Arlidge.

A NZRU spokesman said Arlidge had started against Taranaki and been in the playing squad on three other occasions.

Acting NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: "We looked at the technicality of whether he was replacing an injured player without first checking his eligibility and found he had already played for Auckland.

"That was a mistake, given that there was an existing regulation."

Northland coach Bryce Woodward said: "It's a rule, there's nothing I can do about it, I've just got to move on.

"It's something we've tried to do because we thought he would add value.

"The New Zealand Rugby Union has said we can't do it because it's outside the rules.

"I've put it aside and moved on."