THE COLOUR OF A JERSEY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 14

THE COLOUR OF A JERSEY

(By WHIM WHAM) Sir Eruera Tlrikatene. M.P.. said <t had been reiterated that politics should be kept out of sport. "The same is not true of South Africa and we are forced to recognise this fact when we meet representatives of that country on the sports field” . . . The very composition of the Springbok Rugby team, quite apart from its prowess at Rugby, was an expression of apartheid.—News item. With the Politics of Rugby I hardly care to meddle. Tricky they are, and delicate. Sing low, my Muse. Soft-pedal! Of the Mysteries of Rugby, Occult, or veiled from Sight, I would not dare profanely sing. Tom Pearce would set Me right. To the Higher Things of Rugby, I bow my untaught Head. Tom only knows! I meekly close My Eyes in holy Dread. To the Rugby Creed I’m faithful, Though Heretics may doubt— I believe that when the Ball is in, The Politics are out. If a Racist Law rules Rugby On some opposing Side, That’s no Shame to the National Game— The Bargain’s sanctified. I wish I knew about Rugby, I wish I knew Much more— The Power it wields outside the Fields, And WHAT we play It for. And the Rituals of Rugby Where, when it comes to a TEST, Our National Principles turn out To be Jersey-deep at Best!