Teachers Blamed For Rugby Drift

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 8

Teachers Blamed For Rugby Drift

(IV.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN,. May 24

Primary school teachers whose interest lies in other sports are considered to be one of the main reasons for the drift from Rugby in Dunedin schools.

This opinion was expressed by several members of the Otago Rugby Football Union’s management committee tonight when declining interest in Rugby in schools was discussed. As a result, a sub-commit-

tee consisting of Messrs G. H. Harvey (convener), J. MeMath, A. Manion and L. A Barn was asked to investigate the matter. It was also decided to ask secondary schools to supply lists of Rugby plav ers leaving schools for the benefit of clubs.

Mr Harvey said the junior advisory committee was most concerned at the loss of interest in Rugby at the school level both primary and secondary. “The committee feels that interest could be stimulated if the dubs provided games for those boys who don’t play on Saturdays. At the moment virtually only the members of the first and second fifteens carry on with the game when they leave school." The chairman. Mr C. K. Saxton, said the union had already approached the Secondary Schools’ Association with this problem. The boys who played on Thursday after practising during the week had probably had sufficient Rugby without playing on Saturday.

Mr E. A. Watson described the number of boys taking up soccer at school as “very disturbing” and he blamed this on the teachers, who were not teaching Rugby at the schools.

He said teachers were tak ing the easier sports to coach “They’re doing it in the sum mer by coaching softball instead of cricket." Mr McMath said it was th< aim of the Secondary School Sports Association to promot all sports. Teachers were als prepared for any sport the might encounter, but ther was a tendency among the to have special interests.