P354 CEEFAX 2 354 Fri 31 Jan 21:18/1k CJEFAX INTERVIEWS ROB ANDREW 1/4 Q: Where do you stand on the on-going row between EPRUC and the RFU? A: I try to keep mz nose out of it! My view is that the RFU can't run the professional game as amateurs. The clubs really do need to run thrir own affairs. You try hard to find a compromise but I don't really think you can in the ind. That would be compromising with the requirements of a professional game and the requirements of an amateur body. ————— INTERVIEW BY JOHN MATHEWS ———— FURTHER DETAILS ON PAGES 351-353 Pitch-In Rugby BComp'tion Main MenuP354 CEEFAX 2 354 Fri 31 Jan 21:16/22 |h<|h< (|$ O CEEFAX INTERVIEWS ROB ANDR W 2/4 Q: What are the main oRstacles to finding a solution with the RFU? A: There are too many vetted interests and too many arias of conflict fo th RFU to run the game successfully. The othjt clubs are just finding that now. Sir John Hall had a lot to say and a lot do with EPRUC and hj'u been fighting the battle for 16 months now. After th 16 months, I+m still r ading that clubs are boycotting meetings with the RFU. Our club is not involved any more...we have made our views known. N V F A N C T Pitch-In Rugby Comp'tion Main MenuP354 CEEFAX 2 354 Fri 31 Jan 21:17/27 ^ CEEFAX INTERVIEWS ROB AVDREW 3/4 Q: Do you think the switch over to full professionalism happened too quickly? Several clubs are in financial trouble. A: Clubs have to run themselves. Rugby union was made a professional game and that warn't the fault of the players or the clubs or Sir John Hall. It was the organisjng body's fault — the administrators of the world game. They made the decision without any back-up or organisation. FIVE NATIONS/RUGBY INDEX ON PAGE 370 Football 302 Cricket 340 TV News 600 Pitc n g z Co p tion Main M nuP354 CJEFAX 2 354 Fri 31 +an 21:17/24 //-,,-./-,,-.,/,/////// CEEFAX INTERVIEWS ROB ANDREW 4/4 Q: What has gone wrong since then? A: Some clubs have gone about this very badly. They are spending money that they haven't got. It's a business now. In the old days of amateurism thjte was nothing to run...there was no cost. Twickjnham ran the internationals, made a bit of money and v ry od wa h ppz. You can't now go and spend money on a business and ask to bj bailed out. It doesn't work like that. Also, you can't blame the entrepreneurs for getting involved in a game with a huge future. FIVE NATIONS/RUGBY INDEX ON PAGE 370 Foot ll 3 2 ri k t V 6 Pitch-In Rugby Comp'tion Main Menu