Schools Can Arrange Live Rugby Telecasts

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31344, 14 April 1967, Page 15

Schools Can Arrange Live Rugby Telecasts

(By Our Rugby Reporter) WELLINGTON. By 55 votes to 42, the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday changed its previously strong opposition to live telecasting of Rugby matches to allow school games to be televised when they were played in mid-week and were not in opposition to any other matches played in the viewing area.

Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the council, said he did not want Rugby’s image tarnished by refusing to allow school matches to be televised. “It will do no harm and may achieve some good, although I am dead against telecasting provincial or club matches.

“It sometimes disappoints me that there is not Rugby on television and that other sports get their publicity in that manner.” Mr D. K. Ross (Northland) led the opposition against having school games telecast. “If we allow this it will create a big problem,” he said. “Is there any demand for this? There is no evidence that our unions want it or that the schools themselves seek it It is only the Broad-

casting Corporation that is pushing the matter. “If we allow this it will expose a soft spot in our armour. For some years now we have resolutely been against live television. Why change it now?” Mr J. N. Millard said that the schools should decide if their games were to be televised. “Leave it to the headmasters. We don’t want to start dictating to the schools,” he said.