Behind The Smiles Beat Drums Of War
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday July 4, 2003
It was all hip, hip, hooray when the Wallabies and Australian Rugby Union officials mingled yesterday at a World Cup function at Circular Quay. ARU chief John O'Neill was sighted merrily shaking Wallabies captain George Gregan's hand despite recent reports of a serious rift between them, and everyone else appeared very pally. Nonetheless, the war drums still bang loudly because of next week's court hearing involving the ARU and the Rugby Union Players' Association, which represents the Wallabies, over the World Cup player participation agreement. It didn't take long for talk at the function to turn to the dispute and how the ARU was delighted that the Springboks, unlike the Wallabies, had signed the agreement this week. O'Neill said he knew exactly what the South African Rugby Union had offered the Springboks in bonus payments, ``and it is very similar to what we have on the table with our players". O'Neill added the ARU had received a revised player agreement on Tuesday morning and ``it is substantially better". However, the ARU will not approach players about the revised agreement until they return from South Africa. RUPA didn't seem too impressed by these developments. Its chief executive, Tony Dempsey, told R&M that ``we've reviewed the revised agreement, and the changes are minor and insignificant this agreement can still be varied by the International Rugby Board after the player has signed it". The next round will be on Monday when the ARU and RUPA wrestle it out in the Supreme Court.
George and the drag-on
Don't stay up waiting for Gregan to make a decision on whether he will continue playing after the World Cup. Yesterday he was surrounded by a Sydney media pack but it didn't stop him from offering a dead bat. ``I'll make a decision when the time is right," Gregan explained. ``If I'm still enjoying it, I'll play on. I am enjoying my football . . . and while that's the case, I'll keep playing." Yet another nifty flick off the hips for a single down to fine leg. Gregan's now on 85 not out.
Naked to a tee
Several crusty Roseville golf club members were in a tizz a few days ago when they sighted a group of naked men cavorting around Roseville Chase Oval. The oval borders one of the fairways, prompting the golfers to do double-takes when they sighted the nudists practising all sorts of rugby manoeuvres and pirouettes. No, they had not stumbled on to a nudist footy competition but were instead getting a sneak preview of the players from the sixth division Subbies team, Roseville, lathering up before a photographic session for their exclusive calendar.
Lote loads up
Don't be shocked if Lote Tuqiri knocks back the endless offers from the Queensland Reds and stays with the Waratahs next season. Why? Well, one of our snouts stumbled upon Tuqiri buying whitegoods last weekend, which would indicate he is moving absolutely nowhere. And the salesman who sold Tuqiri the goods obviously knew his target. The salesman's first question was: ``Hey mate, don't you play for West Harbour?"
Buy that woman a drink
Waratahs fans will be lining up to buy large drinks for Justin Harrison's mother, Judy, when the Wallabies lock hits the field for NSW. As Judy wrote in the poem we received last week, she missed Justin's first Super 12 try last season when he scored against the Waratahs in the semi-final because she was answering a call of nature. Judy was at her son's farewell match last Sunday when the Brumbies defeated Tonga, but no prizes for guessing where she was as Harrison signed off from the ACT in style with his first ever five-pointer at Canberra Stadium.
Referee's shout
Northern hemisphere countries have been bleating about how they will be disadvantaged during the World Cup because of the heat and the restrictions on the use of water bottles during matches. However, World Cup boss Matt Carroll yesterday allayed their fears, explaining to R&M that, under tournament rules, referees can allow additional water breaks to ensure no player suffers heat stress. The referee will liaise with the match commissioner and the teams' coaches and captains to ascertain whether more water breaks will be allowed.
C'est magnifique
Nod-nod, wink-wink of the week: A message to all Vaucluse princesses. The Eastern Suburbs rugby club at Woollahra Oval will be the official venue of the French rugby team, where they will conduct all their open training sessions during the World Cup. The oh-so-smooth French love nothing better than meeting good lookin' locals . . . and we're not talking rugga buggas.
Quote of the week
`I don't know how George could sleep there. There's way too much fun to be had downstairs'
Wallaby No.8 and avid gambler TOUTAI KEFU on the kerfuffle over George Gregan sleeping one night at Melbourne's Crown Casino.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
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