RUGBY AND LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 3

RUGBY AND LEAGUE

POSITION OF UNION PLAYERS. NO REINSTATEMENT ALLOWED. Tho Secretary of the New Zealand Rugby [Jnion wrote a letter to the meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union last night, in which ha advised that any reinstated or readmitted players to the Union code should bo advised that should they again play League football no further application for reinstatement or readnjission would be considered. Mr Harris said lie bad noticed an advertisement calling a public meeting of those who wished to play League. Ho understood certain individuals were going round the various clubs persuading players to join the League. He pointed out that the New Zealand Union had decided that no players who played League after a certain date could lie reinstated. That date had gone past, and, though players who bad played League before the specified date could ho reinstated, those who played after that date could never get hack to Rugby football. There was no doubt that some of their players would leave them, and some of them they would be well rid of. There were young players, however, who might be led away by promises. He thought players should understand the position, and that clubs should be circularised on the matter. _ Dr Evans suggested that a warning notice should lie inserted in the newspapers. Mr Harris moved—“ That the clubs bo circularised and asked to advise their players that any player joining League will not bo allowed to be reinstated as an amateur player.” _ Mr Woodrow second the motion. He said that a. lot of players were under the impression that they could be reinstated. Trie Chairman said the purpose of Mr Harris’s motion was to advise, players who went over to League of the risk they were running of never being able to play amateur football again. The action of tho committee was ‘not prompted by any fear of the League game- gaming ground in Dunedin. Ho felt they were doing it as a duty. A lot of young players might be misled by persons offering them certain inducements to play League. The suggestion that the union shout' advertise a warning was not general!,' favored. The motion was carried unanimously.