-
Watch Video
-
Related
Andy Haden has been gagged by Sport Minister Murray McCully
following his controversial "darkie" comments.
Haden was due to appear on
TVNZ's Close Up tonight but now says he has
been told by McCully not to go on the programme.
"I agreed with the minister's office and the request of the NZRFU
not to join Mr Sainsbury's programme this evening. So after
agreeing earlier on, I just, unforunately, was not going to be able
to join you (TVNZ) this evening," Haden said by phone.
Haden's role as ambassador for the 2011 World Cup is already in
doubt after comments he made on television about the Crusaders'
selection policy.
"Once they've recruited three, that's it. That's their ceiling.
Three darkies... no more," said Haden, who played 117 matches for
the All Blacks between 1972-85 including 41 tests.
"In the Crusaders manual, there it is, it's enshrined in their
articles, and they've stuck by that. And they know damn well that
that's the case. And it's worked."
Haden was keen to keep the debate going this evening but has been
told not to say any more. The
Close Up debate continued without him with NZRU
Chief Executive Steve Tew, sports journalist Richard Boock and
former All Black Frano Botica.
And while it is accepted the crusaders don't have any written rules on selection, journalist Boock said on the show that there is some truth in Haden's claims.
"I still think there's a subversive element that believes too many Polynesians in the team is bad. And that having a few in the most suitable positions is the best idea. I think that's naive to think that hasn't been an influence on decision making," he said.
However rugby boss Steve Tew says the squad's simply a reflection of Christchurch population.
Earlier today, Prime Minister John Key said Haden's comments were are offensive and wrong. Key said McCully will meet Haden over the weekend.
"I'm sure they will be having a discussion and we will see where that leads," he told reporters.
But Key was clearly unimpressed: "My view on that is that the comments are not only factually incorrect, they are also offensive."
"Dismissive"
Earlier today Green Party MP Kevin Hague said Haden had been dismissive of non-white players in the past and said he should be sacked from his ambassador role.
"Andy Haden was a poor choice for a rugby 2011 ambassador due to his organisation of the 1986 Cavaliers tour of South Africa - at the height of South Africa's apartheid era," he said.
Hague said Haden had more recently been dismissive of the significance of apologies from rugby officials in both South Africa and New Zealand over the past treatment of Maori players blocked from touring South Africa.
"If you think about who we want as ambassadors, we don't want people who will bring New Zealand into international disrepute, and that's what Andy Haden will do," Hague said.
Speaking on Radio New Zealand today, Haden stood by his comments, but said it was in reference to Pacific Island players as opposed to Maori players.
He admitted he had probably overstepped the mark by claiming the Canterbury union actually had a written policy on Pacific island players, but said the issue of race-based selection policies did exist.
The offending comments were made during a panel discussion on Sky TV's Deaker on Sport programme on Wednesday.
Crusaders management have strongly denied Haden's claims which also sparked a strong response from New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew.
Embellished
Haden told Radio New Zealand this morning he had embellished what another former All Black skipper Chris Laidlaw had said in a recently published book.
An unrepentant Haden clarified he was not talking about the exclusion of Maori players from the Crusaders but about Pacific Island players and admitted that he had probably overstepped the mark by saying the policy was "in the manual and enshrined in their articles".
"Yes, (the policy) set in stone and ..., that's wrong but the principle remains and this is an issue for New Zealand rugby."
He said where this policy was most obvious was in the make-up of the Canterbury academy.
Tew yesterday questioned Haden's suitability as one of six World Cup ambassadors.
"The decision to employ those ambassadors was the minister's - those comments might make one reconsider that appropriateness."
Haden said this morning the issue he had raised had nothing to do with his World Cup role.
Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said Haden's claim were untrue.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder told NewstalkZB he had been involved with the Crusaders a long time, and he had never seen any evidence Haden was right.
It was unfortunate the comments had been made because they brought the game into disrepute and hurt people and reputations, he said.
The Crusaders team, beaten in the Super 14 semifinals by the Bulls last weekend, included Pacific Islanders Kahn Fotuali'i, Robbie Fruean and Ti'i Paulo.