RUGBY MUDDLE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 57, 4 September 1918, Page 8

RUGBY MUDDLE

A NEW DEVELOPMENT

PLAYERS REFUSE TO PLAY UNDER AMENDED RULES

NEW ZEALAND UNION STANDS

FIRM.

Slight shocks and small sensations have been the order of the- day in football circles in Wellington during the past week or two, and the latest development is by no means the least remarkable of a. strange series of r occurrences.

Eleven members of the representative team, and its emergencies, chosen to meet Auckland next Saturday at Athletic Park, have now decided that they will not take part in the game if it is played under the amended rules, as proposed by the Wellington Union, in defiance of the ruling of the controlling body (the*Management Committee of the New Zealand Union), that the game . and all interUnion) that the game and all inter-union games must be played! under the rules of Rugby. as laid down by the English Union. • r ,

The names of the men concerned are: Christopherson, Marks, Porter, Aitken, Thomas (2), Parker (2), Nicholls, Chesterman, and Bowel The two latter are emergencies. l :

The decision is all the more surprising in view of the statement made at the meeting of the Wellington, Union last night, that^ the players had signified their intention of being loyal to their union, standing firm, and playing under the amended rules. '

So the position.as it stands to-day is i>. most interesting one, and, incidentally, a most unfortunate one.

By what can. be gathered from members of the Management Committee of the New Zealancf'Union, it would appear that the latter body is determined that the constitution shall be strictly adhered to on the. lines of its former decision not to allow the playing of the game under the amended rules, even as "an experiment." ■ '" . ■ It is pointed out by some that there is no penalty 1 attaching to a player who refuses to play, the Wellington Union rules containing no provision to punish players for refusing to violate its own constitution. / ■■ •;. ,

It is not known what steps the New Zealand Union wili take.in the matter, but in the event of the disqualification or suspension of the'Wellington Union, all players under its jurisdiction automatically become disqualified. In the case of the players' above-men-tioned, it is thought that they have taken a very wise step, and one that may have a far-reaching effect. It is held to be almost certain that their cases, in the event of any automatic or formal suspension, would receive very favourable consideration from the governing body. ■ ■ .'' , iThe latest information would indicate that, at present, the Wellington Union's intention is to proceed with the match, despite the decision of the greater part of those chosen not to take part in it.