Sparks fly in club rugby

• Published date: 16 July 2021
• Author: Patrick McKendry
• Publication title: New Zealand Herald, The (Auckland, New Zealand)

Kepu, 35, a veteran of 110 tests, had played only one previous match for Karaka before last Saturday and was given a late dispensation — on safety grounds — to appear in the playoff match against Manurewa.

Kepu had registered with the Counties Manukau Rugby Union only 10 days previously.

It’s generally accepted players appear in at least four round-robin matches for their clubs before they’re eligible to play in finals.

In a statement, Counties Manukau chief executive Aaron Lawton defended the decision, saying it was not made lightly. A Karaka representative did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment.

Manurewa, who had beaten Karaka twice in the round-robin this year, led 25-7 at halftime but finished as 36-25 losers after Kepu took the field as a strategic replacement after the break.

Manurewa president Kere Maihi told the Herald his club had been informed at 4.43pm on the day before the match that Kepu had received a dispensation to play for Karaka. He claimed Karaka applied for a dispensation citing a lack of front rowers and concern for player safety. He said the application was written on a local law firm’s letterhead.

“We had no chance to protest or make our feelings known,” Maihi said. “The only thing we could do is follow the bylaws and play under protest which ended up being a bag of wind — it meant nothing.”

An appeal by Manurewa was dismissed on Tuesday night.

“Since the game, it has been full-on with all sorts of dealings,” he said. “I would like to stress that the Counties Manukau CEO and union don’t have the authority with these decisions. The Karaka club, while we deem their actions unsportsmanlike, they also were entitled to take those actions, although their timing was immaculate.

“The people who are answerable for this travesty is the executive committee of the council of delegates. They have the power to make discretionary decisions and they gave the dispensation, albeit under duress, I believe.

“We consider that the timing was calculated ... Karaka had lost two props to the Tongan side [to play the All Blacks] five weeks prior but they still managed to field a full contingent against us three weeks later.

“And their reserves side was knocked out of contention one week prior which further added to their player stocks. Why then was a Wallaby prop allowed to play?”

Maihi said the honourable solution for Karaka was to default the game or agree...