Graham Henry 'disgusted' by racism row

BY MARC HINTON

Last updated 19:54 31/05/2010

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All Blacks coach Graham Henry has weighed into the rugby race row sparked by Andy Haden's controversial accusations of a Polynesian quota at the Crusaders.

Henry, in an interview with Campbell Live on TV3 tonight, made it clear where he stands on the whole thorny issue of racial attitudes and Polynesian stereotypes in the sport.

The All Blacks coach said he was disgusted by the comments that were being generated around Haden's allegations and said he felt they had done New Zealand a "huge disservice".

Henry, who has made extensive use of Polynesian players as captains of his All Blacks, described the row sparked by Haden's allegations as narrow-minded and short-sighted and said much of the comment being generated was "absolute rubbish".

Haden, the former All Black lock, sparked a firestorm of reaction when last Wednesday night on Sky TV he accused the Crusaders of having a quota of no more than three Polynesian imports per year.

The comment was part of a general discussion on the "browning" of New Zealand rugby, but Haden did himself no favours by referring to the Polynesians as "darkies" - a term for which he has subsequently apologised.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Henry told Campbell Live. " New Zealand is a wonderful country and I think we're very lucky that we live here... We're doing it a huge disservice by some of the comments that have been made."

Henry said he felt rugby "equalised" people and he called on the example of his two long-term All Black captains.

"Our current captain is an outstanding young man who happens to be a European, happens to be highly intelligent, who happens to be a pilot, who happens to be Richie McCaw, who's an outstanding player.

"But if you look at the last long-term captain, that was Tana Umaga and Tana was also an outstanding young man who grew up as an All Black and had huge respect from his peers, and led then from the front."

Henry has used five Polynesians as captains in his time, with Rodney So'oialo, Mils Muliaina, Keven Mealamu and Jerry Collins also leading the side since he took control in 2004.

"They are outstanding young New Zealanders those people," added Henry. "I listened to some of the sports programmes over the weekend and I was disgusted with some of the remarks made over the radio that these people are not capable of making decisions.

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"It's absolute rubbish."

Added Henry: "It's very disappointing and very narrow-minded and short-sighted and shows a lack of real understanding of what this country is about. We're all New Zealanders together... [but] I guess that's part of our inferiority complex as a nation."

Henry was asked if there was any truth in the stereotype that Polynesian rugby players were not as intelligent or were not as capable when it came to decision-making.

"I think it's absolute rubbish personally. What Polynesian players have done, they've advanced the ability of the All Blacks and we're very lucky to have them.

"Some of the people making the remarks need to actually think about what they're saying because I don't think the brain's been connected to be quite frank.."

Henry did not address Haden's allegation specifically, but the All Blacks coach is clearly not pleased by the discussion line it has provoked.

- © Fairfax NZ News