Rugby: Canterbury dispute poaching allegation

Canterbury rugby chief Steve Tew last night rejected an allegation that one of his union officials tried to poach North Harbour No 8 Ron Cribb for the both the Super 12 and NPC series.

North Harbour chief executive Doug Rollerson made the claim as part of a general call to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to take a stricter stance on enforcing the Super 12 draft regulations.

Cribb is expected to be named in the Crusaders' 26-man squad on Friday, but will rejoin North Harbour for the NPC, where he is under contract until the end of 2001. NZRFU rules require Super 12 draftees to return to their NPC unions.

Rollerson said he had not intended to slight Canterbury, but he was adamant Cribb received an approach from a Canterbury official. He refused to name the person, but said it was not Tew nor Crusaders coach Wayne Smith.

But Tew said Rollerson's claims were "absolutely untrue." No such approach had been made to Cribb and Canterbury had always abided by NZRFU draft regulations.

He said: "I can tell you categorically that nobody from here told Ron Cribb or any other player in the last three years that they must transfer to be considered as a draft player."

- NZPA