NEUTRAL REFEREES FOR TESTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28963, 3 August 1959, Page 14

NEUTRAL REFEREES FOR TESTS

“Nothing Useful To Be Attained”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) JOHANNESBURG, July 31. The president of the South African Rugby Referees’ Society iMr R. P. Roberts) said in a newspaper interview today that “nothing has been written in recent days to convince me that anything useful would be attained by the appointment of neutral referees for Rugby test matches. He was replying to recent sug-] gestions that former Springboks] and Transvaal officials are in favour of neutral referees for the forthcoming All Blacks tour of South Africa: Mr Roberts said; “Why don't the protagonists Qf this system go the whole hog and ask for the appointment of neutral referees for provincial matches against overseas teams as well, seeing they have no confidence in our referees? “Has a neutral referee any more status in giving a player on either side ‘marching orders?’ “Perhaps a more vital question would be whether our referees have the support they are entitled to expect. “Far more would be accomplished by those people who are always advocating changes if they devoted their attention to teaching players such fundamentals as discipline, teamwork, and unselfishness and, above all, how to win and lose in a dignified and sportsmanlike manner.” Mr Roberts said the appointment of neutral referees was discussed fully at the society's annual meeting in 1957, and was turned down unanimously.