Ex-ABs on board Turbos campaign

Five former All Blacks resident in Manawatu have thrown their weight behind the Save The Turbos campaign.

Three lofty locks – Sam Strahan, Frank Oliver and John Callesen – as well as prop Gary Knight and halfback Mark Donaldson sent a letter to the New Zealand Rugby Union's Jock Hobbs and Steve Tew and to the NZRU board members, opposing the proposed cut to the Air New Zealand Cup competition.

Tew replied with what appeared to be his standard letter.

Strahan has been involved with the Oroua club since his playing days and was the Manawatu Rugby Union president from 2003 to 2006.

He was to the forefront when Oroua was fighting to retain its senior first club status and it was natural for him to solicit the backing of the other four players. He said they needed no persuading.

Former All Black hooker Bruce Hemara was the other resident All Black, but Strahan didn't enlist him because he is an employee, as the Turbos' assistant coach, in the competition under question.

The five All Blacks said the effect on rugby in the event of Manawatu being relegated would be disastrous. "The loss of the Turbos would negatively permeate down through all levels of clubs and schools in the region," they wrote.

They urged the NZRU look at team and compliance costs and salary cap issues.

"We presume the NZRU has in its constitution a requirement to promote and encourage rugby at all levels. We fail to see how relegating a union like Manawatu could possible be in accord with these objectives. We know that any change of this nature will lead to a major contraction of the game in this region in terms of player numbers, revenue and passion for rugby."

Tew's reply was the same old blather about the NZRU board being aware of the hard work that had gone on in Manawatu, the unions having asked for a sustainable competition, a new meaningful division one competition with automatic promotion-relegation.

"We trust you and the other supporters will stick with them regardless of whatever decisions are made for 2010," Tew said.

Meanwhile, the NZRU has received more than 200 letters and emails from Manawatu correspondents about the controversial cull.

That has pleased Save The Turbos steering group campaign manager Grant Smith.

"I think the letter-writing has helped," he said. "It hasn't been a pointless exercise. It shows Jock Hobbs and the board there is an underlying groundswell of support against this decision."

Smith's view is that the NZRU stance has softened in the past month. There are also rumours circulating that the NZRU might accept Mid-Canterbury and Wanganui into a 16-team premier division and have two divisions of eight teams.

Smith has confirmed he will stand for a director's position on the Manawatu Rugby Union board.

- © Fairfax NZ News