Rugby flourishing in Colorado

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32047, 23 July 1969, Page 15

Rugby flourishing in Colorado

'THE former Linwood and Canterbury Rugby representative, S. J. Havill, returned to Christchurch from the United States this week with the news that Rugby is flourishing in the state of Colorado. When Havill went to the United States two years ago on a Churchill Fellowship there were only three teams in the area; now there are 12, and they are backed by a strong group of enthusiasts. Several of the game’s supporters became Rugby addicts in the mid-west and they have stimulated the growth of the game in the Rocky Mountains area. Although he had retired from competitive Rugby be-

fore leaving Christchurch, Havill was soon back in the swing of things, coaching and playing for a team from the Colorado State College, where he studied for a doc-

torate in education. He also served on the Rugby Union in Denver.

In the first year the university team won the district championship, but Havill found that his fellow players did not take kindly to training. Their experience of gridiron football led them into trouble as well; several players suffered broken noses or jaws through launching themselves head-first into the tackle.

Havill also found the Americans to be lacking in the game’s skills, particularly passing. Punting caused the average player a good deal of bother.

But there was no lack of enthusiasm among the players, most of whom were big men who thundered after the ball with gusto. However, Havill believes that Rugby in the region will not improve unless efforts are made to introduce youngsters to the game. And in a gridiron country, this might be the hardest task.