RUGBY v. LEAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 19272, 10 June 1926, Page 2

RUGBY v. LEAGUE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Being an old Rugby player in Dunedin I naturally had a great loaning towards the game. I was induced by a friend to attend the League match at the Caledonian Ground last Saturday, and X was surprised at the splendid exhibition of fast, open football, that was a real treat to witness. I remember when Rugby was just as fast and open, but that was before the abominable wing forward was introduced. Just imagine what it means, when the moment the half-back gets the ball out of the scrum he is pounced upon by .a wing forward, who invariably is waiting off-side. In the olden days the ball came out of the scrum to the half-back, then it was passed to the backs, and they made off with it, which provided the onlookers with a good clean, open game. Now I think the playing of the wing forward is doing a great deal towards taking the interest out of the Rugby game, for the simple reason that it is slowing the gam© down; consequently those of us who like a good open game are prone to wander from the fold and pay our attentions to League. I venture to say that if the wing forward is not done away with and the game made morq attractive the time will not he very long when those supporters of Rugby who, like myself, want a fast, open game, will go over to League, and those who are responsible for i raining the rules will bo to blame. Hoping that some improvement will be made.—l am, etc., Half-back. Juno 9.