Counties anger over Otago poaching attempt

The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union has sent an open letter to Otago's main newspaper saying Otago rugby officials have been trying to poach Counties' schoolboy players.

The letter, by Counties Manukau chief executive Peter Dunne to the Otago Daily Times, outlined Counties' concerns about luring away young players.

"I thought it may be of interest to aspiring born and bred Otago rugby players that Wesley College had recently been visited by Otago RFU representatives, enticing our first XV players to your province," the letter said.

"The visit raises two questions. Is there no faith in your local talent or are there failings in the Otago development programme?

"Is the only answer to recruit playing talent from outside?

"Perhaps another suggestion may be to entice those involved in rugby development in Counties Manukau or other struggling unions to work with your boys. We look forward to a call."

Dunne said he had not received any call back from Otago officials.

"What they have done they are quite entitled to do. Rugby is a business. It's a matter how we fight that. We can't do it financially," he said.

"So we use letters like this to make Otago people aware. If I was an Otago boys' first XV player I'd be annoyed."

Dunne said the four semifinalists in the national secondary championships came from Southland, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty and Counties-Manukau.

"So we do have the talent, and for the sake of New Zealand rugby and competitiveness we would like to retain those boys in each and every one of those provinces."

- NZPA