Rugby: Southern move would aid Crusaders' Cribb case

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Highlanders are backing the Crusaders call for a rule change that would allow them to keep Ron Cribb if the new All Black No 8 wishes to stay with the Super 12 champions.

Crusaders chief executive Steve Tew said last week he will push for a change so drafted players have the choice after the first season with their adopted franchise.

Tew says North Harbour forward Cribb wants to stay with the Crusaders even though the Blues will still have automatic rights to him for the next Super 12 season.

Otago and Highlanders chief executive John Hornbrook supports the rule change.

"If a side makes a player they should have first call on him if that player wishes to stay. It comes down to common sense," said Hornbrook.

Hornbrook said his board would take a similar view with Isitolo Maka, who was unwanted by the Highlanders this year and was drafted by the Chiefs.

Maka is different in that he first made his name with Otago and the Highlanders, but Hornbrook said if he wished to stay at the Chiefs the Highlanders would almost certainly let him do so.

However, it will be an irrelevant point with Maka set to join French club Toulouse, after this year's NPC, because he has failed to win an All Black recall.

Maka has the right to get out of the final year of his Otago and New Zealand contracts if he is not wanted by the All Blacks. The elevation of Filo Tiatia to the test squad was further evidence that he is not in the selectors' plans.