Rugby group reprieved

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34104, 17 March 1976, Page 22

Rugby group reprieved

Christchurch rugby ’ club presidents and club j captains appear to hat e won their battle to exist as a committee with a role — if a reduced one —to play in the running of the sport in the city, ij Last month a member of i the Canterbury Rugby Union’s management committee, Mr B. J. Drake, accused i the presidents and club captains’ committee, which has been in existence for about two years, of usurping the rights of the union in administering the game. Last evening a meeting of I the union touched on a recent meeting between some of I

- its members and the presi- ( dents and club captains. , Mr G. G. Don said he had spoken “quite forcefully” to the presidents and club capi tains about the harm that H could be done by having a • separate faction involved in ; policy matters. Mr Don went on to list a [■ number of favourable things the group had achieved and how it could bring a closer - liaison between clubs. I The chairman iMr C. 11. J. Rhodes! said he was much hap ’ pier after the meeting than he . had been before it and he was ' optimistic about a closer under . standing with the union in the future. However, Mr Rhodes re ■ vealed that the presidents and . club captains had refused to accept a suggestion that their meet i . ings be chaired by a member of ’ the union • He -aid it was agreed that . . presidents and club captains!: I would report back to tneu- clubt .

matteis they Lad discussed and the clubs, in turn, would carry the message to the union \>a their delegates -h appeared to be overlooked that not all clubs are represented on the union, or that executive members are not appointed as representatives of their clubs.> The attitude of the meeting was that the presidents and club captains would be only too happv to go along with the union, said Mr Rhodes. However. Mr Drake, for one, ■was clearly not satisfied, although he considered the chan man’s comments ’heartening " He described the arrangement as an easy acceptance of the committee s right to continue to meet without anv direct line to the union and he did not be lie\e that the meetings would be either hindered or inhibited b\ the appointment of a union chairman. The union made no decision on any further action, although the general opinion appeared to be that so long a.« the. committee kept its activities in perspecthe and kept nut of poljrv matters then it should do mors good than harm.