League match

Press, 1 December 1988, Page 12

League match

Sir,—lt sickens me in this day and age, to see that petty jealousy and Stone Age beliefs still exist. I refer to the article (November 29) regarding the Rugby Union’s attitude towards a charity match to raise funds for the Burwood Hospital spinal unit. Having played both codes, I found them both enjoyable. I have been told by avid rugby followers that they always enjoy watching a game of rugby league. Record television statistics for league tests do not lie. These elder statesmen in the Rugby Union need to be dragged in to the twentieth century and given more powerful bifocals to see with. They are stifling both codes by their recent actions, causing animosity at the executive level. In Australia both codes co-exist, helping each other for the benefit of sports people. I see no reason for declining this charitable event from using Rugby Park. Maybe the rugby clubs need a rethink when voting these people on to the union council. —Yours, etc., S. MATHER. November 29, 1988. Sir, —I would like to express my absolute amazement that senior Canterbury Rugby Union officials have seen fit to withdraw their approval for the use of Rugby Park on March 19 for the charity benefit to raise funds for the Burwood Hospital spinal

unit (November 29). Are these people setting an example as to what sport is all about? They may personally find rugby league distasteful, however I should think that any sportsman would hold to the adage that it is not the game but how we play it that is important.—Yours, etc., B. W. HARDING. November 29, 1988. Sir,—lt should come as no surprise to rugby league people to experience the arrogance displayed by unnamed officials of the Rugby Union over the ruling on the proposed charity game. The veto of the Kiwis-All Blacks get-together a few years ago by one such petty official is a classic example of this conduct. If ever a constitution needed reworking to allow the infusion of intelligent, progressive thinking, it is that of the Canterbury Rugby Union. This decision is not one by sportsmen concerned for the good of the sport. The league fraternity may take some small comfort; there are many thousands of rugby people and players bound by internal and external policy making of such as these who will share their contempt—Yours, etc., MURRAY KANE. November 29, 1988.