"COURTESY CUSTOM"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 93, 22 April 1925, Page 9

"COURTESY CUSTOM"

REPLACEMENT OF PLAYERS.

The question of replacements of players during the progress of games was the subject of discussion at last night's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union's Management Committee, Mr. G. F. W. Jackson moving, in accordance 51th notice given at the previous meeting, "That thero be no replacements of players after half-time." ■ The mover expressed the view that the custom of allowing replacements had come to be abused as it frequently happened that two and three players were replaced during a game. It was hard on one side to fend the opposing side bringing on a iresh man-in the second spell, particu-' larly where a game was affected by weather conditions. Adoption of the proposal, Mr. Jackson contended, would make teams more sure of their position It eg wo ,"/■ Pk)'e/ S iD °ther S , and it would provide more games for those fOllOWedteamS---d" = A' J l t cksoa seconded the motion, th« t 7^\ B atten««i of members to the fact that the Imperial Kugby conamendment was raised by Mr H H Sterhng. "This ffle £ • a matter affecting the rules of Rugby " iingby have we any jurisdiction to alter 1" It seems to me we are skating on very thin ice." The Chairman (Mr. J. PrendeviUe) : We can lay down rules under which, club competitions shall be played. The rule book says the game shall be played by fifteen players on each side, and leaves it at that. The English inter-, pretation is that each team starts with fifeen players, and it cannot bring on any others. . The New Zealand practice has been that a player could be replaced with the consent of the captain, of the opposing side." Mr. S. G. Hale : "A very good idea too." Mr. T. A. Fletcher (Referees' Association representative) : "There are no replacements in South Africa." Replying to tho point raised by Mr. Sterling, the chairman said : "It is not a rule of Rugby j it is a courtesy custom which has come into football." He added that in his opinion it was advisable to express an opinion on the matter for the guidance of clubs. • Jff' A: i3^ 50." : "Is England correct in the attitude it takes up? And are we correct in the attitude we take up? According to the rules there is a loopl hole one way or the other. Can we make definite something that is indefinite : ■ . . ment: That m the absence of a mandate from the delegates, the opinion of tins committee is that the custom as to replacements should be reduced to a nmumnm,. and. clubs are recommended not to replace in the second half of thn ga-T i ,If e asked that » general wish of clubs was to do away with re placements ,t should be expressed lne amendment was carried