ASSOCIATION AND RUGBY.

Evening Star, Issue 18044, 11 August 1922, Page 7

ASSOCIATION AND RUGBY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—.May I bring before your readers how desirable it is that wo should encourage more Association football in Now Zealand as an improved development of the old Rugby game, being far less dangerous to life and limb and providing equally good sport? From the spectacular point of view, too, an aspect not to bo overlooked, Association has much to commend it. Opinions as to the merits of the two games will doubtless differ in the dominion ; but in the Old Country, where both have had adequate trial, it ia little short of marvellous how the new game has grown in popularity over the old-. It may bo largely by reason of the. all-round amenity of the Association game compared with the’ rough-and'-tumble of Rugby. Here in, the North within the last month there have been two fatal accidents on the Rugby hold, resulting in the loss of two precious lives. Among one’s friends in New Zca-

land are ever to be found 1 old Rugby players, and l it does not seem exaggeration to state that every third man of them •has some physical ” infirmity incurred through playing Rugby. The car of Juggernaut was not without its merits to the old Hindoo devotees of Vishnu; but it passed. So should Rugby.—l am, etc., •- Thames, August 7, James Milne.