Rugby: Kiwis' future in Wales in serious doubt

LONDON - Fears heightened yesterday that New Zealanders Brett Sinkinson and Shane Howarth do not have Welsh ancestry after both players were left out of the Welsh rugby team to play Scotland in the Six Nations match at Cardiff at the weekend.

Serious questions have been raised about their eligibility to wear the red jersey and the Welsh Rugby Union has launched an investigation into the New Zealand-born pair.

And north of the border, disquiet in Scotland over the number of New Zealand players claiming Scots ancestry has been exacerbated this year by the national team's miserable performances in the new Six Nations championship.

Scotland, the 1999 Five Nations champions who are now captained by New Zealand-born and raised second five-eighths John Leslie, have lost all three of their games this season.

"The Kilted Kiwis haven't come through the system to earn the respect of the Scottish public," former Scotland centre Scott Hastings said.

"Some of them have stepped off a plane, driven to Murrayfield, put a jersey on their backs and played for Scotland. It shouldn't happen."

At least Scotland will be spared the embarrassment faced by Wales this week. Overseas players wishing to represent Scotland must provide proof of their eligibility.

In the case of the Welsh team, Sinkinson was not expected to play anyway because of injury, but Howarth's exclusion is a surprise and one of seven changes to the side who lost 12-46 to England at Twickenham.

The pair were both drafted into the Welsh squad by another New Zealander, coach Graham Henry. Neither player was required to produce papers to prove their Welsh ancestry.

It is believed Howarth was in the team when the names were released to the players, but his name was withdrawn the next morning.

While Howarth has so far been unable to produce birth certificates showing his Welsh ancestry, his replacement at fullback, New Zealand-born Matt Cardey, has already provided the Welsh union with documentary evidence which proves his grandmother was born in the coal mining valley town of Nantyglo near Ebbw Vale.

Former North Harbour winger Cardey brought his grandmother's ashes to Wales last year, scattered them in Nantyglo and planted a tree in her memory.

The International Rugby Board changed the rules a few weeks ago, requiring players to produce birth certificates to prove origin, which is believed to have ignited the current debate.

If Howarth is unable to prove his heritage it could be the sudden end of his international career as he would not be eligible for Wales again until he is 33.

Sinkinson, aged 28, could return after serving out his three year residency by August 2001.

Wales team manager David Pickering said it was only right that Sinkinson and Howarth should not play for Wales until investigations were completed.

"The players have been contacted and the situation explained to them. Brett would not have been considered for the game because of a shoulder injury he sustained at the weekend, while Shane has agreed to stand down from the squad in order to provide documentary proof of his Welsh lineage," Pickering said.

Under International Rugby Board regulations a player must have a parent or grandparent born in the country he wishes to represent, or be resident in the country for three years.

Sinkinson moved to Wales in August 1998 and has played 14 tests while Howarth took up residency in Cardiff last year after several years playing for Manchester club Sale.

Howarth has played all 19 games for Wales under Henry and has insisted his maternal grandfather was born almost within shouting distance of the old Arms Park.

The embarrassing episode was the talk of the valleys in Wales yesterday. Talkback radio had people saying they knew of Sinkinson's grandfather, Syd, during his days in Carmathen just north of Llanelli, despite being born in Oldham near Manchester, about 80km north east of the Welsh border.

- NZPA