LETTER BOX

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 13

LETTER BOX

RUGBY ATTITUDES

“ ‘See how the world its veterans rewards’ —We were amazed to read the remarks of the third grade Rugby selector on a match he watched recently between Christchurch and University. His unsolicited remarks were ". . . . Their approach to the game is not in the interests of Rugby as a sport, or a help to the numerous young players in the grade.” What is this unspecified “approach?” Perhaps we should clarify the issue and confess our crimes; exposing the Christchurch public to the sight of 10 to 15 over-weight, under-trained veterans who never run 10 yards when five will do; whose cowardice in face of physical danger has become a byword; who wilfully throw the ball about in haphazard fashion; who are unable to exploit tactical kicks through lack of willing “follow uppers;” whose last line of defence is their first; who cannot recall their last competition triumph; who have never trained: to be precise—those who have 'ailed in all respects to live up to the finest of New Zealand Rugby traditions. To all these crimes we confess. We note with interest that we are also contaminating the fair Rugby youth of Christchurch. In our modest opinion we are merely passing on our scanty knowledge to our younger opponents. This knowledge which has been gained by brief contact with the great has now been spurned. Are we. like Socrates, to take poison?

We take this opportunity to point out some relevant facts. Nowhere else in the sporting world is it a crime for veterans to continue playing after their ambitions have ceased to be a driving force. The grade in this case is an open one and therefore is open to us. The score in the match in question was 8-8 and that would seem to substantiate our thought that we are in the correct grade. We would dearly love this selector to observe a match between the sth XV’s of two English clubs. It would be quite probable that he would see former internationals up to 45 years of age opposing players of 18. In this country it is obvious such a game would require a witchhunt of McCarthy dimensions. We would also take this opportunity to inquire—does anyone recall why men play

Rugby? Perhaps we are entirely wrong, and if this is the case then we will willingly lend Mr Derbyshire and his supporters every as-’ sistance to stamp out this radical growth in the Rugby ranks. This letter has been written because we feel that the report on our attitude to Rugby required some clarification. We have never met Mr Derbyshire and feel he was not exactly qualified to air our views, nor to understand our approach to the game.’’—A. C. TIMPSON, G. P. DEE, R. W. CHEAMY, D. WILSON, R. WILLIAMS, B. G. HAMILTON, R. D. TATE, J. THOMSON, B. KNIGHT. E. MAYELL, N. WILEY, G. SHAW, B. SHIRLAW, J.- W. BLYTH, R. MACLAGGAN, A. HARRIS, J. G. YOUNG, K. HARDIE.