WAS BARCLAY ELIGIBLE FOR HAWKE’S BAY TEAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 97, 15 July 1927, Page 11

WAS BARCLAY ELIGIBLE FOR HAWKE’S BAY TEAM

RANFURLY SHIELD ECHO WAIRARAPA WANTS AN INQUIRY Press Association. MASTERTON, Thursday. The Management Committee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union decided this evening to request the New Zealand Union to% take up the matter of W. Barclay’s residential qualification in Hawke’s Bay prior to his participation in last Saturday’s Ranfurly Shield match. It was stated that at a conference of Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay officials prior to the match the Wairarapa delegates debated Barclay’s position on the basis of 14 days’ residence, and the Hawke’s Bay delegates satisfied the Wairarapa queries on that point. It was subsequently found, however, that the New Zealand Union rules (Rule 43) provided that any player engaging in interprovincial football must reside in the province for at least three weeks prior to the match. In view of the fact that Barclay did not leave Auckland for Napier before June 23, and had not played in Hawke’s Bay this season prior to the match against Wairarapa, Wairarapa felt justified in asking the New Zealand Union to investigate his bonafides. The takings at the match were £ 1,455. The number who paid for admission was 10,500, and with complimentary tickets and juveniles who were admitted free it is estimated that over 12,000 were present.