Rugby EIGHT YEARS AGE LIMIT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 15

Rugby EIGHT YEARS AGE LIMIT

Buller Union’s Decision (From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT. April 15. A decision to fix the age limit of boys playing in its competition at eight .years was made by the Buller Rugby Union Junior Advisory Board on Friday night. The matter was fully discussed in the light of the West Coast board’s decision to restrict competitions to boys of 10 years and over The chairman (Mr 3. S. Connelly) said that the Buller board has less players than any other in the Seddon Shield districts. Normally he would favour a higher age limit, but that would cut out 70 boys from playing Rugby in the district. a good percentage of the total weighed in. It was said that if the higher ago limit was imposed in the Buller it would restrict the board's activities to such an extent that it would hardly be worth while going to the trouble of organising competitions. It was also mentioned that there was a classification committee which could ensure that no boys were over strong for those of lighter stature in the lower age group The chairman said that parents had sent their children along as usual to be weighed in and obviously had left it to the board to fix age limits. He said the midget grade had been deleted some seasons ago. The Old Boys clubs’ delegates, Messrs B. Hennessey and F. Ferguson, said that it was in favour of a higher age limit, but delegates from Westport. White Star and Ngakawau stated that they had received no instructions on the matter. It was finally decided unanimously that only those under eight years would not be allowed to play.