Former All Black captain Kieran Read has called out New Zealand Rugby over the handling of Richie Mo’unga’s eligibility.
New head coach Dave Rennie recently confirmed that no exemption has been granted for Mo’unga, who signed a non-sabbatical contract to play in Japan for the last three years, and new CEO Steve Lancaster reiterated the decision.
Read could not understand the decision, given that the ability to grant exemptions and change rules lies with NZR itself.
He says long-time Crusaders teammate Matt Todd was given an exemption to play for the All Blacks on the 2018 Northern Tour, where he played against England and Ireland.
Read says New Zealand Rugby has changed it before.
He says why don’t they just let Mo’unga play, if they know he is going to be so vital for the All Blacks to be successful, as he is literally signed to New Zealand for the next 18 months.
He says Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown, who have been in Japan and supposedly it is a sabbatical, will come straight in and play in July.
The former No. 8 says it would be a travesty if they are running out in the first test against South Africa and Richie Mo’unga is playing here for Canterbury.
He says it would make no sense, it would be ridiculous.
Source: rugbypass.com
