Little Support Likely For Eight-Team Proposal

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 9

Little Support Likely For Eight-Team Proposal

TT is unlikely that Mr R. x W. Thomas’s rather idealistic notice of motion that the senior Rugby competition should consist of eight teams only will receive even a modicum of support when the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union meets on February 4 to discuss the composition of the senior grade for this season.

Rather, it can be expected that the decision made last season, that the competition should consist of 14 teams with the addition of Lincoln College and a University B side and the retention of Sydenham will be confirmed.

It would be most surprising if any delegate from a senior club would vote for a motion which would mean the dropping of four teams; one of which might be his own club. Mr Thomas's motion, however does have some merit. The A competition of eight teams playing two rounds of seven matches should provide better Rugby than has come from the present competition where

the uneven standard of the teams has tended to concentrate Rugby ability in only a few of the clubs. The new form of competition with 14 teams which will be discussed at the meeting does not differ much from that of previous seasons. The 14 teams will play a round of 13 matches and then will be divided into three sections. Section one, which will consist of the top six teams to play for the championship, and two other sections of four teams.

These two sections will play a round of three matches and then the leading teams will play off to decide the winner of the bottom eight competition. The whole competition will be played over 18 Saturdays so that club players will have more Rugby than for many seasons. Whether the presence of 14 teams will renew interest in club Rugby remains to be seen. But the addition of Lincoln College and University B should add some life to the competition, particularly if they can produce the attractive

brand of Rugby they have displayed in the senior reserve grade.

Although the suggested form of the competition does not contain anything that was not mentioned last year when the management committee made its decision to have 14 teams there has been a change of policy on the promotion relegation. Last year it was decided to do away with the promotion relegation system but now a new system is proposed which will give encouragement to junior clubs and it is a wise decision by the management committee. Although the automatic promotion relegation match will be changed to a team having to make an application for such a match and also approved by the committee it still gives a chance to lower grade clubs to force their way into senior Rugby; something that was to be denied them by last year’s decision of the committee.