An unpaid bill for $25,000 worth of food and drink, accrued at an Otago Rugby Football Union black-tie dinner just months before the union admitted facing liquidation, has been labelled "scandalous" and "obscene".
Former All Black captain Anton Oliver has described the events involving Otago Rugby Football Union over the past two months as a "zoo", saying what has happened is diabolical.
The Dunedin City Council has been given a stake in the future of the Otago Rugby Football Union, and will use it to closely scrutinise candidates vying to be part of the next board, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says.
The Dunedin City Council is to seek clarification over any liability for the Otago Rugby Football Union's $1.2 million debt formerly owed to the Bank of New Zealand.
The Dunedin City Council will have a permanent presence at future Otago Rugby Football Union board meetings, after councillors yesterday appointed an observer to help avoid any future "train-wrecks".
The embattled Otago Rugby Football Union has $200,000 in funds to pay back small creditors but admits it is unlikely those owed cash will get all their money back.
The prospects for amateur rugby in Otago look much stronger thanks to Queenstown businessman and philanthropist Sir Eion Edgar, former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains, Southern Wide Real Estate managing director John Faulks and Otago Country Rugby.
The Otago Rugby Football Union bail-out debate will again echo around the Dunedin City Council table, when a full meeting of the council today moves to confirm the minutes of an extraordinary meeting that discussed the issue two weeks ago.
A deal that was understood to have been struck with the Highlanders to use Forsyth Barr Stadium was found to be void last year, just months before the Otago Rugby Football Union went into financial meltdown.
With debate across Dunedin at fever pitch on rugby meltdowns, debt, the stadium and rates, the public will soon be able to join the cacophony, as the Dunedin City Council's annual plan consultation begins.
Chief executive Steve Tew claims the New Zealand Rugby Union is not jumping for joy at the "saving" of Otago rugby. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to Tew about the Otago situation and its ramifications across the country.