The cost of training is catching up with the St John organisation. Sports that contribute to costs are more likely to receive benefit.

Because of the expense, they're only likely to be seen at bigger rugby matches at Arena Manawatu.

But St John district manager in Palmerston North, Phil Budding, said it hadn't totally become user pays and he often attends sports voluntarily.

"It does vary," he says. "In the past rugby has given us a reasonable donation."

Motorsport is charged fully for using St John. That's a national directive and locally St John has a contract with speedway.

"But from the volunteer side of things, in Palmerston North we used to have 30 for sports events," Budding said. "Now we have seven or eight regularly. It's a sign of the times.

"People work on Saturdays and don't have time."

Until last year, volunteers had been on duty at Arena Manawatu each week. But for personal reasons, a volunteer and his wife haven't been able to do the work this year and two other young regulars are now employed in shift work.

It didn't help last season when Budding said a St John volunteer who went to assist an injured player at a match was told to "f... off" by a person attached to a team.

If sports wanted qualified paramedics on duty, they would have to pay. Budding said training paramedics through the voluntary system cost about $20,000 each.

Budding said he had quoted the Manawatu Rugby Union a fee of $200 per afternoon for two qualified personnel and a vehicle, but was told yesterday the union had turned it down.

The Manawatu Rugby Union's Chris Ricketts, who is responsible for club rugby, said St John can't cover all rugby everywhere and there are 50 games played at grounds outside Arena Manawatu each weekend.

"Many other grounds in Manawatu don't have them (St John) and injured players are usually treated by a trainer or physiotherapist before St John can do their thing."

He said it would have cost the union $6000 to pay for St John personnel over 18 playing days through the season.

"We would love to have them here but it's hard to justify (the cost)."

Most senior sports teams have physiotherapists attached to them. They have tended to rugby players who have been seriously injured at Arena Manawatu this year and in most cases have not moved the players until an ambulance has arrived.

Manawatu Rugby Union chief executive Hadyn Smith said there is a limited amount of money now rugby is in the professional enviroment.

"It's a cost thing, an extra cost we haven't budgeted for.

"But I have absolutely no issue with St John asking for fair compensation," he said.

Rugby usually has doctors and physiotherapists on duty at representative matches.

 By PETER LAMPP