LETTER BOX

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 5

LETTER BOX

Rugby Crowd

“At Lancaster Park on Saturday the crowd jeered and cat-called at an injured referee. I (a newcomer to Christchurch) have never seen an exhibition more disgraceful and loutish anywhere in New Zealand. It was not merely a case of a few imbeciles making fools of themselves: fully a third of the spectators joined in, and kept up their ill-natured demonstration until the unfortunate referee had left the field. From this incident, and by the amount of fragrantly vicious ‘stoush’ indulged in by the players, especially the University forwards, I must conclude that if this is (as I fear) typical of the spirit of Canterbury Rugby, Canterbury’s reputation among the sportsmen of New Zealand, which is not now particularly high, will sink even lower. Rugby officials and supporters in Christchurch need to think deeply about this and act before some ugly demonstration such as that on Saturday, mars the Lions visit to this city.”— SOUTHERNER.

Rough Rugby

“I heartily endorse your stand at the weal: attitude adopted by the Rugby Union towards rough play. Fortunately for the game of Rugby this attitude has not always been the same, and I quote from the ‘Lyttelton Times’ of July 6, 1899. the fate of a friend, the late D M who, though he committed no such crime as dangerously punching a player, was suspended for life. My clipping reads: ‘The Wellington Rugby Union has suspended M for life and warned him off the grounds for using indecent language towards a referee in a senior match last Saturday. M was a prominent Petone player and has represented the province on more than one occasion, and would have represented Wellington in this season’s inter-provincial matches.’ If the present day Rugby Union has not got the courage of the unions of 60 years ago, then we know something serious is wrong.” —OCTOGENARIAN.