League club a benefit

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 11

League club a benefit

rpHE advent of a University Rugby league club, and the entry of a team in the senior second division, should prove of considerable benefit to the code in Canterbury. In addition to the immediate benefit of a new source of players to Rugby league, the re-introduction of the code to the university should provide a future flow of school-masters conversant with the rules and able to coach young players. One of the greatest problems encountered by administrators trying to start the sport in New Zealand high schools has been a lack of masters capable of taking

charge of teams and supporting the code’s case. Now that universities in Canterbury, Otago, Wellington and Auckland are play-

ing Rugby league regularly and competing officially in the annual universities tournament much of the suspicion of head-masters and their associations should be removed. The guidance of the convener of the Canterbury selection panel and former South Island coach (Mr E. Butts) played a large part in the formation of a team to compete in the 1968 winter tournament and, subsequently, the formation of the club on Monday evening.

As a member of the Canterbury board of control, Mr Butts was able to act as a liaison officer between the league’s administrators and the enthusiasts proposing the club’s birth in addition to assisting in a coaching capacity.