Teachers’ College XV Must Prove Worth

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 21

Teachers’ College XV Must Prove Worth

An application from Teachers’ College for full senior status from the beginning of the season was declined by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening.

The committee instead decided that the club’s application would be accepted but no decision would be made until after the first round of the senior and senior reserve competition when the playing standard of the club would be known.

The application from Teachers’ College said that its senior team would be a very experienced side containing many senior players and the club would be fielding six teams, two more than last year. Mr J. Storey asked whether under its present rules the committee could accept the application.

Mr D. B. Doake: Yes. We have a complete discretion. Retain New Players

Explaining the reason for the application, Mr Doake said that if the dub was granted senior status it would retain its new players. “In past years senior players at the college have joined other clubs because the college did not play senior Rugby. “Also, there seems to be more support for the Rugby dub among the students.” Mr C. H. McPhail said he was sympathetic to the re-

quest. Perhaps Teachers’ College has not done as much for Rugby as it might have done because it has lacked opportunities. “If we can help the club we will get their help because we rely on teachers for coaching schoolboys,” he added.

Mr N. D. Morris then suggested that Teachers’ College should be asked to submit to the committee so that it could try and evaluate the club’s strength.

“Before we do this perhaps we should investigate just how Teachers’ College has increased its strength. Are they canvassing other clubs?” asked Mr Storey. Mr Doake said it had been the other way round. Many clubs took players, many of them senior grade, from Teachers’ College. Mr Storey said there had been many cases where students who previously had played for City clubs had

been told they had to play for teachers’ College. Mr Doake: I disagree. Students are not compelled to play for the club. “In my experience I can remember cases where students who wanted to play for open clubs have been told by staff members that if they did not play for the college their future careers in teaching might be affected," said Mr R. W. Thomas. Mr J. K. Torrance said that in 1965 a special committee had decided that Teachers’ College should not have senior status in 1966. “Now they are asking for it again.”

Mr S. E. Husband then moved successfully that Teachers’ College should be advised that the system used last year of deciding an application for senior grading on performances during the first competition round would be followed again.