RUGBY Eradication Of Foul Play Urged

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 15

RUGBY Eradication Of Foul Play Urged

(From Our Own Reporter; WELLINGTON, November 20. The complete eradication of foul play and misconduct from Rugby football is urged upon the New Zealand Rugby Union by the International Rugby Boaid in a letter received by the union’s council today. The letter was the outcome of meetings of the board held in New Zealand during the tour by the British Isles team this year. It urges that “all games should be played in the right spirit” and that there be no room in. the game for the player who obstructs, cheats or intentionally inflicts injury on an opponent.”

The letter, which reads as follows, will be sent to each union in the Dominion:— “The board is concerned to ensure that all games are played in the night spirit. Selection committees at all levels should take action against those players who do not play fairly. There is no room in the game for the player who obstructs, cheats or intentionally inflicts injury on an opponent.

“Laws 20, 34, and 35 give to the referee adequate powers to deal firmly with any such player on the field of play. For the good of the game and the maintenance of its true spirit the board requires that the referee should apply strictly the provisions of these laws. In particular, the referee must in all cases discharge the obligation upon him to order off or to caution any player, who has infringed the laws against serious forms of obstruction and foul play, that is, in addition to awarding a penalty, or a penalty try, for the offence. The words used in giving the caution should clearly indicate to the player that if he offends a second time he will be ordered off the field.

“Tn making Law 35 (c) concerning repeated infringements, the board dealt with the case of players who repeatedly incur penalties by infringing the laws. The intention was, also, that by requiring the referee to report such players to their union the onus would fall upon committees to take appropriate corrective action against the reported players. These objects have not yet been achieved and the board must, therefore, urge that more attention should be given to the requirements of this law.

“The laws of the game are made and altered from time to time for the primary purpose of making Rugby an enjoyable game at all levels. While that is so. the board gave special consideration to the state of the game at representative level. It is the unanimous view of the board that all unions should co-operate in ensuring that these matches should be an example to all of the true spirit in which the game should be played, “It is essential for the welfare of* the game that in all international matches the highest standards should be maintained. International players, hbove all others, must know and observe the laws and expect them to be strictly .enforced. The example so given at the highest level of the correct spirit and behaviour will be generally followed and will prove of inestimable benefit to the game everywhere.