RUGBY INJURIES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 10

RUGBY INJURIES

WHEN TEETH ARE BROKEN

It was Held by the Management Committee of the Wellington llugby Union last evening, when a daim was made by a player, in respect of ,a broken tooth, that it was unable to pay dental expenses out of its accident fund. -

The player concerned, a member of the Berhampore Club, wrote stating that m the senior A match between his club and Marist, one. of his front teeth was broken at the base. The tooth was in perfect condition before the match, and as a result of the accident he had had ;:to have a gold arid porcelain crown made.' - He enclosed a;, dentist's bill *' for £2 :10s.';. ; ;■■■ , • Mr1.: Ji Moffitt said :that; if : .;a" previous Management Committee had ■■ ■ decided : not to pay dental expenses,' the present Management Committee ..was not bound ,by that decision. Many of the players were unaware of the fact thai1 they- were unable to claim dental expenses. Mr.. G...F. W. Jackson (hon. treasurer) contended that clubs had been informed of the view -taken regarding dental injuries. The accident fund rules did not provide for such cases. Mr J. N. Millard stated that from £700 to £800 had been paid put by the union last year on account of injuries. • r Mr. A. J. Griffiths said his view had always - been that if a player had a good, sound tooth damaged in a_ match the union should: recognise the injury in the same light asbodily injuries. On the other hand, if the practice were adopted 01 paying dental expenses it would probably be open to abuse.:- . ~<. \ ]' , -, ,: . Although regret was-expressed that tne accident should have happened ,-t0..-the Berhampore player, it was. decided to inform him that dental injuries were not covered by the accident fund rules. "Another.Berhampore Club player claimed £5 6s Cd for the loss of clothes and a bunch of keys from, the dressing shed at Quin's Post last Saturday. He said in a letter that after the match he found that his'trousers; singlet, shirt,, and the • keys, which lie. valued at £1 10s, , had, been stolen, and he" had-Had'to come into town in the cold in his football clothes. „■. \, It was decided that-the. committee-was unable to meet the '.request, and to advise the player to place.. the matter in the hands of the police. A decision: was also made to write to the Upper Hutt Club suggesting that someone should be appointed to watch the dressing shed while matches are being played. ...