Television policy on rugby questioned

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 6

Television policy on rugby questioned

There were suggestions from two executive members of the Canterbury Rugby Union test evening that the N*w Zealand union should review its television policy. They came from Messrs M. R. Inglis and M. C. Sullivan after a discussion on the changes last Saturday in the starting times for a number of club matches. Mr Inglis said Canterbury had “always played by the rules” and taken the stance that live telecasts of big games were not necessarily going to take place. “Perhaps the time is ripe lor the New Zealand union to look again at this policy and generally what rugby is going on television,” he said. Mr Sullivan said it was rather silly for the union, and its officers, to say that it did not know if a game was going to be televised live when everyone knew it was going to be. The chairman. Mr R. W. Thomas, who is the chairman of the N.Z.R.F.U.’s television committee, said he did not wish to comment, other than to say that any change to the present policy would have far-reaching effects. Mr W. A. Russell said it was noteworthy that some sections of the news media were changing their views on live telecasts and the clubs, too, he said, were now more aware of the dangers. “They realise the money to run the game has to come from somewhere and if it doesn’t come from gates then it must come from them.” Earlier, Mr B. J. Drake had reported how, following information supplied by Mr Russell (the competitions chairman), he had i called an emergency meeting last 'Friday (Mr Thomas was in Auckland) to reconsider last SaturI day’s starting times.

“Although not everyone might have been in favour, the decision was still taken unanimously to rescind the earlier motion and bring forward as many 2.45 p.m. games as was possible. Even so, some teams still made their own arrangements and played earlier,’’ Mr Drake said. Mr Russell said it was disappointing that some games had not been played at the times laid down and an effort would have to be made, he said, to get a clear opinion from clubs on what they wanted. He said he had spoken to some players who preferred, even on test days, to play at the normal times, but their clubs apparently thought differently. ‘"The same goes for Sunday rugby. We have been told that the majority of players are opposed to it, yet we now hear that some clubs wanted Sunday games last week-end We have got to get clear understanding with the clubs; at the moment they are saying one thing and their players another,” said Mr Thomas. Agreement in principle was given for a goal-kicking competition to be held in the under-14 to under-19 age group. The final will probably be held before the Canterbury vs Taranaki match at Lancaster Park on September 22. Suspensions were handed out to three players ordered off last Saturday for foul play. B. McLaughlin (Merivale-Papanui senior B) was stood down until after July 21; D. Hemara (Albion under-19) until after August 11; and a Suburbs under-18 player until after July 28. There were three other orderings off last Saturday, but for various reasons these players were unable to appear last evening. They were stood down until they do so. M