Short-lived boycott over as DeA make their peace with HKRFU

Troubled First Division Club DeA have reached a truce with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) and will honour their fixtures for the rest of the season.

DeA boycotted their last game before the Christmas break - on December 6 against Football Club - in protest over the deportation of their captain Wiremu Maunsell, and the reluctance of the HKRFU to back calls for assistance from the First Division clubs over the issues brought about by professionalism.

This was followed by threats to pull-out of the Foster's league competition completely. Their future in the First Division was put into further doubt with two key players, prop Scott Cartwright and centre Andrew Briscoe, leaving the SAR.

But yesterday, DeA chairman Trevor Gregory revealed that the club would return to First Division action this weekend.

'We will fulfil all our fixtures. The players have talked and decided that they would continue. The most important thing at the moment is to finish the season . . . then we can start looking at the problems which are still around,' said Gregory.

However, Gregory urged the HKRFU to continue looking at ways to solve the problems First Division clubs face over getting visas for overseas players and acquiring finances to field competitive sides.

'The HKRFU has to face the issue and deal with it. There is no point trying to ignore the problems . . . the Union and its directors must decide where they want the game to go,' said Gregory.