Mains escapes SARFU discipline
Sydney
May 16, 2000

Cats coach Laurie Mains will not be disciplined by SARFU for excluding Lions centre Mac Masina from his squad for Saturday's Super 12 rugby semi-final against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.

South African Rugby Football Union President Silas Nkanunu dismissed reports as "inaccurate", adding that Mains had cleared his decision with SARFU last Thursday.

"A gentlemen's agreement on the inclusion of black players in the Super 12 was in place this season," said Nkanunu. "Laurie was aware of this and hence made the effort to clear his decision with us beforehand. Hopefully, SARFU will be in a position to rectify the situation and further its transformation ideals next year.

"These kind of matters will be discussed after the rugby Super 12. Right now our support is with the Cats as they prepare for their very important semi-final. We wish them well and hope they can proceed to the Super 12 final."

As the Cats prepared for their Super 12 semi-final with the Brumbies in Sydney, reports suggested Mains had threatened to resign when told of reports that SARFU officials were worried that he had not honoured an agreement to pick two black players in his squad of 22 for this season's Super 12.

"If they want to discipline me that's fine," Mains is reported as saying. "But I will simply coach elsewhere. There might be some New Zealand sides interested in employing me.

"I was brought up in a multicultural society, where all people were treated equally, and I am not going to start becoming a racist now. I am following Super 12 rules in putting my best possible side on the field."

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