By Dale Budge
Karaka’s win over Manurewa in the McNamara Cup semi-finals has been over-shadowed by the furore around former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu’s exemption to play despite linking with the club just a fortnight ago.
Kepu was approved to play on Friday by the Council of Delegates executive (representatives of all competing clubs in the CMRFU) on safety grounds after Karaka successfully applied to have him play.
It sparked outrage from opponents Manurewa, who played the game under protest, and had a comfortable lead when the 110-test prop entered the game.
Karaka came storming back in the second half as their scrum dominated with Kepu on the park and they over-ran Manurewa to win 36-25 and advance to the final against Ardmore Marist.
The ill-feeling was not just felt by Manurewa supporters. Every time the score changed in favour of Manurewa a cheer went around Bruce Pulman Park – the venue of the other semi-final between Ardmore Marist and Patumahoe. Both teams’ supporters then moaned whenever Karaka scored, and the issue was the talk of the rugby community.
The Counties Manukau Rugby appeals committee is almost certainly going to be called upon this week to review the matter although whether the result can be over-turned now is unlikely given the final is set to run on Saturday.
The situation highlights the many flaws in the CODs system.
CMRFU bylaws, which are set by the clubs, state that any player transferring into a club mid-season must play at minimum four games during round robin play to be eligible for semi-finals or finals.
Kepu clearly does not meet those criteria.
Karaka lost regular starting props Sila Puafisi and Duke Nginingini to the Tongan international side late in the season and they have been left bare in terms of front row stocks.
They argued on the eve of the game, via a lawyer’s letter, that having to promote players up to Premier rugby that were not up to it was a safety issue in the front row.
The CODs executive – consisting of four elected club volunteers – had to make the tough decision on Friday. Chairman Andy Baker, who is from the Karaka club, abstained from voting leaving the other three members to determine the outcome.
Imagine being a volunteer and having to vote against player safety.
Therein lies the problem. How is it that these club volunteers have the burden of determining if it is unsafe to uphold their own rules? They do not have the knowledge or expertise to make such a judgement nor should it be the purpose of the CODs.
It also took place at the last possible minute (Karaka didn’t make the request until Thursday), removing any ability for the wider CODs panel to question the executive’s decision and force change.
The bottom line here is Manurewa should not be disadvantaged by Karaka’s front row shortage and the CODs exec and the system used has failed them badly in this regard.
The laws of rugby, which govern all organised rugby in New Zealand, caters for safety issues and this is where the CODs exec missed an opportunity.
The laws state a team must have a minimum of three recognised front rowers to start a game, which Karaka had excluding Kepu. They could play with a short bench and even revert to golden oldies scrums if front rowers became hurt or fatigued during the game.
Karaka would clearly be disadvantaged but it alleviates any safety concerns.
There was no need to provide dispensation to Kepu.
But now that the genie is out of the bottle, it is going to be impossibly hard to get it back in with the final looming.
Standing on watching all of this play out is the Counties Manukau Rugby Union, who are powerless to do anything.
They have no say in whether Kepu is allowed to play or not, yet appear to be the whipping boys for disgruntled club fans whenever there is an issue with the competition.
The misinformed clearly don’t understand that CMRFU Constitution hands all powers of running club rugby to the CODs – something that is sure to come under fire in the months ahead.
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