Welcome to the numbers game

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 24

Welcome to the numbers game

By

JOHN BROOKS

The international terminology for a back row forward in football —a No. B—has been dealt a body blow by the Canterbury Rugby Union’s new policy of jersey numbering. In line with the replacement of the weekly programme with a handbook for the season, the union introduced a system of one man, one number, one jersey, rather than the team of the day wearing a given set of jerseys. The move was sound but for one point—the union failed to give clubs a lead on the way this permanent numbering should be done.

So while some clubs numbered their top senior line-up from one to 15, with the first forward reserve bearing the No. 16 jersey, others gave the forwards in their squads the lower numbered jerseys before starting on the backs’ allocation. This meant that a No. 8 might well be No. 12, and the half-back, traditionally No. 9, could appear as No. 13.

Just to confuse the issue more the Suburbs club hit on an incredibly intricate method of numbering —the tight forwards were given jerseys from one to

eight and , the “loosies” from 17 to 21. The backs’ numbers came in between. The union’s plan was for its spectators to buy the handbook at the start of the season and follow the players through their re-

gular numbers for the duration of the interclub competition. It sounds all right in theory, but from the experience of opening day last Saturday the longsuffering patrons might well finish up totally confused.

Several players appeared in jerseys other than their own. For example, it was not Michael O’Donovan cutting through in midfield for Marist in the No. 12 jersey; it was really Paul Molloy.

O’Donovan usually plays on the wing, but his place was filled by a tall young man in jersey 21—which, according to the handbook, made him Michael Hodgins. But he was, in fact, Mark Ryan, because Marist does not run to a 21 jersey.

Number 10 for Lincoln College was supposed to be someone called Schrader, but it was Lance Rickard. The book listed him as No. 14, but that was Mark Mclntosh, who was supposed to be No. 17. The kicks at goal for Old Boys were supposedly taken by Hamish McPhail, according to the handbook’s numbering. But Geoff Machirus, who was listed as No. 23. was the man filling McPhail’s jersey. And so it went on, with New Brighton baffling everyone by not wear-

ing any numbers at all. The problems are bound to continue. Lincoln College, for instance, has 31 players in its squad but its jerseys peter out at 20. The chunky handbook of 120 pages which governs this situation is on sale for SI. It contains just about everything the spectator needs to know about Canterbury rugby. And it will also be the sole means of identification of players until the union begins issuing give-away team sheets, probably next week.