RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12317, 2 April 1938, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

IMPROVING the game

SOME CANDID CRITICISMS

~L VVERS AND AMUNIS--1L TRATOKb

t p McNeil®. a well-known Mr o J n - ti Ve footballer, now residat in responding to an inS in anv suggestions that may apP wo toproVe the standard of Rugtend to imi Vgw Zelllant i. and reW fo °fhe prestige of New Zealand Et° re exponents of the game, players tem erity in a letter to ha %So to slate his views. These the fcd vhethpr they be agreed with V ‘ e "not certainly provide lood for or ■ !.' dousideration. In setting JS hi* opinions. Mr McNeile writes

U the present time with Sir>_ " „.i, of the 1938 season, ,he “ discussion throughout lher Ve.S regarding Kughy fool--1 to what can be done by.the ? ' Un i o n ami the provincial unions • vZ ; r.i-rve the standard ot play. 10 !" would indeed appreciate it if 1 allot some oi your % alu•v?“ CO ,a C d e to the discussion of the problem in respect to the Bay of p len tv in particulai. Th ; Bay of Plenty Union has 1 oct-P.l !)V the parent body to bß \Vanv suggestions as to how it “improve matters here, and I feel caD n olaver’s point of view that i «»od ■!«■> '>» , h p As I see it the old order ot ,Mn-s has outlived its usefulness ? n d a complete reorganisation is a ": c *sar.v. in fact must he brought !bout before much can be accomXled 1 feel Qualified to some St 'to make these constructive riticisms following upon a representative playing experience of one year fnr Manawatu Union, three years loi Wellington. one - ear tor tllG Tara ~ 1-: province and one year playing for 'the Bay of Plenty Union In discussing the position I shall no doubt tread on the corns of some our administrators, perhaps play-, ors also, but to improve conditions /bit more straight talking and less "back scratching” is necessary, and someone has to make the start. This last applies to the N.Z. Union and the annual conference of union delegates held in Wellington, as «11 as within our own administration.

To discuss the position one must fl rs t decide whether the general standard of play is good or bad, and there is a strong body of opinion that it is bad. With that point decided how then are we to raise the standard and put the Bay on the rugby map? The first step, I submit, is to build up a strong representative side which can measure up to the standard of other major unions. This can be done only by building up the standard of our club football. And how can we do that?

We have too many senior teams of poor standard. Some of these must be eliminated. In places like say Tauranga and Te Puke (and the same applies perhaps in a more marked degree elsewhere) each lias four senior club teams, which means that there should be sixty players of ability plus sixteen emergencies making 76 men at the very least, keen and fit, all training hard to secure or keep a position in his team, for only by hard training together, with each man pulling his weight, can good football result. We darrboast of nothing like this,' and why? Because there are too many senior teams, and it is too easy to get into a team. The men will not train; they will not even be punctual at matches. In many cases do not turn up at all and do not bother to even let their coach or team captain know. And another and vital point—in none of these districts have we anything like even sixty players whose ability qualifies them to form four clubs and play senior football.

If both these sub-unions had two dub teams instead of trying to run four, with one or more withdrawing before the season is over, the result would be that there would be keen competition among players to secure inclusion in the senior team, resulting in a high standard of physical fitness, enthusiasm for training, and what is more important still, a high degree of team spirit through keener, fitness. How could we have two teams in each union and still have a competition? Reducing the number of sub-unions and at the same time the number of administrators. And here is where I stand on the corns of some of the members of the subunions.

Just as there are too many teams lor the number of qualified players, so there are in the Bay of Plenty too many unions for the number of Qualified administrators. By “qualitiod” 1 mean men who know and understand the game from a play■ug point of view and whose sole desire is to foster the game for the benefit of both players and public. In the Bay we have eight subunions, each with 8 administrators, making 64 in 'all, some excellent and competent men, but some who should not accept the position bemuse of their lack of interest in “ e welfare of the players and the game itself.

Each of these sub-unions has its little rep. team, whose sole aim s to win the Apauui-Huriuui Shield, no so has grown up a parochialism rich is the real canker in the game.

we reduced the number of sub'Ms, cut down the number of club i learns, abolished the Apanui teld competition and substituted 1 competition for the Champion Club leam of the Bay of Plenty, with admstrators whose outlook, instead „ , emg tor their own little subfontn* n' Vas tlie lar »er one of better ban U 1 the Bay of pienty> we i v a see a marked improvement. tllen have a representative tn t. l a p^’ei ‘ would be proud hiicV nt^U( * ei * * n > aQ d it would give district, a real place on the Rug--1n,,.. ap ‘ Only by sound, unselfish men , administration by qualified ine !f n th ' s 1)6 done; also by sendr ’ al ? le delegates to the keen meetin Ss, and by having can L j an(l ca Pable players. It tine ni ( | one ' The difficulty of getbkjn er ?. tpsother is a real proa pins , is bard to get into and Payers will be Iteen com P J’ F us enthusiasm, will overT). °t that difficulty. PreßPn/?- 1118 the sele ction of a resarr t n a , lVe team is hardly neceskctons I 3 "' , tllat llie selector or seunion tm2 uW visit ail Parts of the they ihey cannot do that, how can Plavm R tae hiterests of their own tors e . VGr ex P eet the N.Z. selecPromi ß in V1S1 ! tlle Bay to view our S ? pla - vers ? of the Jr S sai(i ot the great sacrifice Mariam terees. It is true and corngame thp time to -t give up so much great Pn - However, they too, get «eine-i, V yment out o{ their referet>ioympm a f s the Player should get kave ohu ! rom Paving, and they Th Q “hgations to fulfil. comhrpF'i 3 ’ o .thing is physical fitness, lefee *Kh an accurate knowfake stiiH-• rules - And the rules ajnug. Good refereeing can

make a game a s surely as bad refereeing can spoil it. Good, strong referees, with a pride in their position, are undoubtedly necessary to control the games and eradicate some of the doubtful and decidedly unsporting tactics employed during some of the games. But it is enough to say that the referee must play an important part in the reincarnation of rugby in the Bay of Plenty. So there we have three groups of individuals who must look to their laurels. Firstly, the Flavors, to whom belongs the game. Seconds the Administrators, who attend to the rules as to how the game shall .be played. Thirdly, the Referee, who sees that the playing rules are carried out.

All have their important part to do and anyone who lias played in a keen game with fine fellows and a strong team spirit knows the thrill of the game, played for the game's sake and getting out of it as much as one puts in.

for the player, administrator and rcicrec alike, from conscientious, unselfish endeavour the reward is s !‘ ea V AlKl Ku Sby is worth the elfort.

iiic.se criticisms and suggestions r place boiore everyone interested m the Rugby game, for no other i eason than a desire to see the game put on a sound footing in this district. MR PA RATA ’ti VISIT RECONSTITUTION OF MAORI ADVISORY BOARD 3lr W. T. (“Ned”) Parata, a member of tlie Maori Rugby Advisory Board, is a visitor to Tauranga, and is interesting himself in forwarding football interests in the Bay of Plenty, particularly in regard to Maori players. He is no stranger to this district, as he was prominently identified with the management of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union for a period of sixteen years up till the time he returned to the South Island some twelve years ago. Mr Parata has been deputed bv the New Zealand Rugby Council to visit all parts of the North Island where Maoris form a large proportion of the players in. football teams. He has already spent three weeks in the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay and has conferred with the Rugby management authorities at Taupo, Galatea, Rotorua, Whakatane, Opotiki and Poverty Bay.

Mr Parata stated to a Bay of Plenty Times representative that the New Zealand Rugby Union had forwarded a cheque for £ 250 to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. This money was a portion of the profits from the visit of the South Africans’ tour and the Bay Union had a free hand in regard to the expenditure of it. He was very pleased with the reception accorded him by the Bay of Plenty football authorities. He intended to suggest to the New Zealand Rugby Union that a Bay of Plenty team should make a tour of the South Island. It should be assembled and trained at the most convenient centre. If the New Zealand Union approved of the tour there was a possibility that a match may be arranged with Southland, the present holders of the Ranfurly Shield, for that trophy. Mr Parata was confident that a good representative side could be selected and with the necessary training should give a good account of itself.

Mr Parata stated that New Zealand Rugby Union had decided to reconstitute the Maori Rugby Advisory Board, which would now consist of two delegates from each of the four Maori districts, viz., Waipounamu (comprising South Island Unions), Tokerau (North Auckland, Auckland, Waikato and Thames Valley Unions), Taira whiti (Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay Unions), Taihauaru (King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Wellington, Wairarapa and Bush Districts Union). These delegates would meet in Wellington in the near future and would formulate recommendations for submission to the New Zealand Rugby Union. This new procedure should give a decided impetus to Maori football throughout the Dominion, and in Mr Parata’s opinion should be a 1 actor in bringing before the authorities the outstanding capabilities of numerous Maori players.

Members of the Tauranga and Te Puke Rugby Unions and others interested in football met Mr Parata in the Ambulance Hall, Tauranga, last night. Mr K. J. Rennie, President of the Tauranga Union, occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Parata, explained the purpose of his visit as outlined above, and said all supporters of the game would appreciate the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr Rennie also paid a tribute to the past services of Mr Parala in promoting the welfare of Rugby in the Bay of Plenty. ‘ Mr Parata said it gave him great pleasure to he in Tauranga again, and expressed appreciation of the loyal support given him when he had the honour of piloting Bay of Plenty teams through various parts of New Zealand. Many of them were players of high class and achieved distinction as All Black representatives. In the past Bay of Plenty teams had played Wellington, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, and he was suggesting to the New Zealand Union that the Bay of Plenty team should be given opportunities to play important teams in both the North and South Islands. Outside competition should he a factor in improving the standard of Rugby in the Bay. Means of communication had been improved compared with the old days and it was now much easier to travel to outside centres than formerly. The control of Maori football was explained by Mr Parata on the linos indicated above and he said the reconstitution of control should serve to promote the interests of Maori players. A Maori team would leave New Zealand for Fiji in July, in response to an invitation from the football authorities at the Islands. Tribal and other important matches would be encouraged. There was a proposal for a Maori team to visit Australia in 1940. He appealed to the Maori players to stand loyally behind the New Zealand Union and made reference to the splendid record of the New Zealand native team which visited the Old Country in 1888. The Maoris were proud of the achievements of that and other Maori teams. He hoped that the coming season would be a successful one and that the local players would train and win places in the Bay of Plenty team. He felt that the Bay of Plenty could field a good side that would hold its own against strong teams in the Dominion. — (Applause). The Chairman mentioned that Mr Parata would he pleased to meet the Matakana Island and other Maori players on the following day—Saturday.

Mr P. Reweti said the Matakana players would be glad to have the opportunity of conferring with Mr Parata. The Chairman moved—That this meeting cordially thanks Mr Parata for his address and requests him to convey to the New Zealand Rugby Union the meeting’s appreciation of the interest shown by the parent body. The motion was carried by acclamation and suitably acknowledged by Mr Parata.