New Country Rugby plans

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 30

New Country Rugby plans

The complete reorganisation of the Southbridge and Munro Shield competitions contested by the Hurunui, Ellesmere and North Canterbury subunions on a challenge basis should enliven the Country Rugby programme this season.

The Canterbury Rugby SubUnions’ management committee decided yesterday that a notice of motion would be lodged for the Sub-Unions' annual meeting next month seeking a change or rules for the competition. The proposed change from the present organisation to a challenge basis would rekindle interest in inter-sub-union competition especially in the seniors’ Southbridge Shield, and judging by the suggestions put forward by

the investigating sub-commit-tee, would probably be most successful. PLANNED CHANGES

Planned changes in the rules include:—

Challenges would have to be submitted to the management committee in early April, where the order of challenge will be decided by ballot.

The games would be played upon the ground of the shield bolder.

Referees and gate-charges would be decided by the committee, but the net proceeds would be retained by the holder. CHALLENGES

If the holder lost the shield, it could not challenge again during that season. The other two sub-unions would each be allowed one challenge only. This rule is intended to prevent the disruption of club competitions by too many shield games.

Unless given prior dispensation, players involved in Munro Shield games would be under the age of 19, and would not have played senior representative Rugby. The Sub-Unions’ annual report shows a loss of $1402.04, much of which has arisen because of the four-match tour of the Seddon Shield Districts. A grant of $l5OO by the Canterbury Rugby Football Union has prevented a greater loss. “The $l5OO from the C.R.F.U. is almost insufficient to get us through,” the chairman (Mr M. R. Barnett) said. “Future executives will have to watch their finances very carefully just as they have done in the past if wc are to consider another tour in three or four years.” SOLE SELECTOR

Another notice of motion to be put before the annual meeting by the committee is| Sub-Unions’ representative

• team (Country) be chosen by i a sole selector this season I After long discussion on I the two selector system a • vote was taken on a show of hands. Members favoured a sole selector by seven to two. , The notice of motion will also suggest that there are ' two colts selectors; a con- ■ vener and the senior selector. ’ Nominations for the post of ■ senior selector will be aci cepted up until the management committee meeting imi mediately before the annual : meeting. Earlier in the meeting, a letter from the Hurunui Sub-Union had nomin-' ated the former All Black, J. ; M. Le Lievre, “subject to his approval.” However, members agreed ' that the nominee’s approval had to be obtained before the nominatioin could be submitted. ■ Mr Barnett has been nomJriated as the C.R.S.U. delegate to the C.R.F.U.