Rugby Union: Welsh rake coals

WHILE Welsh rugby was quietly tearing itself apart internally, Alan Davies and the national team were preparing for the important action against England at the weekend. It may be four years since 10 Welsh players headed for the South African centenary celebrations, along with six officials, but in Wales there is a great penchant for making a drama out of a crisis.

Revelations from a previously suppressed report on the involvement of the Welsh in the birthday tour caused twitches in the respective international camps as players from both sides were involved.

Robert Norster, the Welsh team manager, along with three members of his current squad, Robert Jones, Mike Hall and Tony Clement, made the trip in 1989, as did the England forwards Jeff Probyn, Peter Winterbottom and Mike Teague.

According to the man who headed the Welsh Rugby Union's inquiry team, Vernon Pugh QC, evidence pointed towards players having received handsome payments over and above the International Board daily allowance.

'The impression we were left with was that the Welsh players were no different from the others in having received payment,' the report said. It also stated 'at least one of the players received at least pounds 30,000 and others as much, or broadly comparable figures'. There was not, though, conclusive enough proof to take action.

Official WRU reaction to the revelation was that the lack of 'concrete proof' left it in an impossible position. 'Against that background we were neither moved, nor in a position, to take any action against the players,' Denis Evans, the secretary, said.

The question of payments to players is, however, something of a side issue for the Welsh clubs, who are up in arms that this hitherto secret report was kept from them by General Committee members they have consistently voted into power.