Rugby pundits want Buck back for World Cup

Rugby pundits are urging Murray McCully to bring back Buck Shelford, as the Rugby World Cup minister considers whether to replace departed rugby ambassador Andy Haden.

Haden stepped down from the honorary role on Saturday after inappropriate comments about rape.

Prime Minister John Key, in Vietnam on an official tour of Asia, said Haden's resignation was "the right outcome" because his comments "had really taken us to a road where we just had to part company".

Mr McCully had not decided yet if someone else would be appointed in Haden's place, his spokesman said yesterday.

However, commentators and administrators have thrown their weight behind All Black great Buck Shelford as an ideal replacement.

Mr McCully appointed Haden as a Rugby World Cup ambassador earlier this year, along with Jonah Lomu, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan, David Kirk, Michael Jones and Andrew Mehrtens.

The ambassadorships are unpaid, promotional positions, though ambassadors do receive reimbursement for any travel costs.

On Friday, Mr McCully said he was "disappointed to again be in a situation where Mr Haden's comments have provoked public controversy".

"It is not possible to combine the roles of television rugby shock-jock and 2011 ambassador."

The view was backed by Mr Key.

"[Haden] has quite clearly, and maybe logically for him, decided to go with the one that pays him better."

Haden, a former All Black, commented on television last week about sex allegations against former All Black Robin Brooke, made several years after the incident, saying women targeted rugby players "at their peril". Some only claimed they were raped "if the cheque bounces", he said.

Mr Key said he had only read media reports on the comments, but on balance, he felt they were offensive.

"As a country, we've worked very hard to send a very strong message that we're not going to tolerate rape in this country or anything else that looks like it's condoning that."

In May, Haden claimed the Canterbury Crusaders had a maximum quota for "darkies".

Haden has refused to apologise for his latest statements, telling Mr McCully he was only stepping down "to ensure that neither your leveraging initiatives or the game of rugby that I love are compromised by the current media backlash to the comments I have made on television recently".

He would not comment yesterday on who he thought should replace him.

However, veteran broadcaster Keith Quinn, who labelled Haden's resignation "unfortunate", suggested Shelford as a candidate.

"He was one name I looked for on the [original] list and was surprised he wasn't there. Shelford was, after all, vice-captain of the team that won the World Cup in 1987."

Sky Sport commentator Grant Nisbett agreed.

"Buck's given a lot to rugby since he retired. I think he'd be absolutely ideal."

Commentator and administrator Ken Laban said it was "shameful that no Maori was appointed as a Rugby World Cup ambassador in the first place".

Shelford would not discuss the matter."I haven't thought about it, and I'm not really interested in talking about it."

Mr McCully would consider whether to replace Haden this week, his spokesman said.

- © Fairfax NZ News