Permission Sought For Rugby Players

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 17

Permission Sought For Rugby Players

The Christchurch City soccer captain-coach, G. R. Evans, will apply by letter to the Canterbury Rugby Union tonight for permission for Rugby players to participate in the “All Stars Invitation XI” against his club side on August 30.

Evans, the co-organ-iser of the match and of the sportsman’s reunion afterwards, said yesterday that he would be taking this action. He received with enthusiasm the comments of Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Mr Morrison, when asked yesterday if a rule concerning a breach of amateur Rugby status (“Playing on

any ground where gate money is taken—in any match or contest where it is previously agreed that less than 15 players on each side shall take part”) would mean an act of professionalism by players taking part in seven-a-side competitions, drew attention to a later rule.

This rule, Rule 2 (2) M 3 of the International Rugby Board’s “Rules as to Professionalism,” says that notwithstanding the rule quoted

above, “the union may grant permission for matches to be played with an agreed number of players less than 15 on each side at any enclosure where gate money is taken.”

Evans said he would be approaching the Canterbury union as a consequence of this rule.

“We are approaching this on very humble lines,” said Evans. “We just want to comply with the rules.”