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The IB meeting was an occasion for baring the soul and even Peter Brook

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The IB meeting was an occasion for baring the soul and even Peter Brook, one of the English representatives, had to admit that the Rugby Football Union itself was "not lilywhite".Considering the sanctimony that had occasionally emanated from Twickenham on this vexed subject, it was quite a confession, but now that the game has "gone honest" - as Tony Hallett, the RFU secretary, put it - the home unions are still left with the problem of competing with the southern hemisphere. "There is a fantastic opportunity because the climate for a number of years has been players being paid without any mutual obligation on their part, by a payment that was not reflective of quality or commitment."Now the clubs can demand a quality of performance that is equivalent to the reward they are about to pay out." Pugh was talking specifically about Welsh rugby, but his strictures apply equally to England.Note the admission that players have been remunerated previously. For instance Brian Moore, the England hooker, though never so fatuous as to deny wishing to be paid for running on the field, used to suggest that the last thing he wanted was to be tied to a contract.A contract involves a quid pro quo and as Vernon Pugh, the Welshman who guided the IB into its momentous decisions, said yesterday, this for the first time places an absolute responsibility on the player. Those who thought they gave rugby plenty under the old rules have not even begun to understand what it will be like to be contracted semi-professionals.How ironic that by opening the whole thing up, the International Board has gone much further than many of the leading proponents of change ever said they wanted. Apologies to the islanders, but they are not the same - whether or not the new Twickenham is filled to its 75,000 capacity for the Samoans.Otherwise the first professional - sorry, open - season looks very much like the last amateur - sorry, shamateur - one. The big difference is that players will be judged more harshly and a loss of form might cost not only a place in the team, but also a week's wages.

Leading players may be hoping to make their fortunes but it is a measure of international rugby's concentration of power that, even with 67 countries in the International Board, only South Africa, New Zealand or Australia are guaranteed box- office. England have at least managed to get the Springboks for a November Test, though nothing else, and otherwise it is left to Western Samoa (in Scotland and England) and Fiji (Wales and Ireland) to give the autumn some spice. Allner expects to offload both men to rival non-League clubs within the next week.. You could hardly say the new era is being heralded with a fanfare. Far from it: the 1995/96 season, which arrives today with September, looks much like any other except that in playing terms it is actually rather less appealing than usual There is not even the benefit of a major incoming tour. The two experienced forwards were placed on the transfer list for disciplinary reasons after the club's close-season trip to Guernsey. The return to a three-pronged attack was also prompted in part by the absence of last season's two wide men, Delwyn Humphreys and Jon Purdie. "People get hung up about age, but he's very fit and his ability has never been in doubt.

We needed quality in that position."In his first spell with the club, Casey linked up with Davies and Mick Tuohy to form a highly effective three-man forward line. Allner has turned once more to that formation by signing Leroy May, who came third in last season's GMVC list of top scorers, from Stafford Rangers for pounds 15,000. "They are all working very well together," Allner said, "and have provided a cutting edge we've not had for a long time."Although their league record so far shows two wins and two defeats, Harriers have not found goals hard to come by: they have scored 12 times in their four games. He has now been reunited with his striking partner from that era, Paul Davies, another veteran who is now Harriers' player-coach."I know Casey as well as anyone," Allner said yesterday. Casey first joined Kidderminster in 1985, and enjoyed five prolific seasons leading their attack. Non-League notebook RUPERT METCALF Kidderminster Harriers, the ambitious Worcestershire club, have turned back the clock in their quest to regain the GM Vauxhall Conference title they won in 1994.If they had retained their crown last season, they would now be members of the Endsleigh League, ground improvements at Aggborough having been completed last summer, so last term's 11th place was deeply disappointing for Graham Allner, their manager.Allner surprised many Harriers fans this summer by bringing the 34-year- old striker, Kim Casey, back to the club on a free transfer from Solihull Borough.

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