Rugby Football in South Auckland.

Franklin Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 33, 24 March 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

Rugby Football in South Auckland.

SEASON APPROACHING NEW CONSTITUTION PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF SUB-UNIONS CLUB SYSTEM SUGGESTED Revolutionary changes in the administration and conduct of Rugby football in South Auckland for the coming season are proposed, and if the recommendations of a sub-committee are approved, then better and brighter Rugby is assured.

At a meeting of the controlling body held last year, a sub-committee was appointed to make recommendations for the formulation of a new constitution for the South Auckland Rugby Football Sub-union. The recommendations have been drafted and submitted to clubs and sub-unions for consideration and will to considered at a special meeting of the Union when sub-union delegates will present the decisions of their respective bodies. The proposed new constitution provides for the union to consist of 12 affiliated clubs, and to obtain affiliation a club must field three teams, one of which must be a senior. In the event of twelve teams entering, the territory is to be divided into north and south zones of six clubs each. Two complete rounds of club matches will be played with home and home matches, and the club final be- ; tween the two zones will be played at a ground determined by the South Auckland Rugby Football Union.

The officers of the union are to consist of & patron, president and 12 vice-presidents (the last mentioned to be elected by the clubs) ; secretary and...treasurer, These officers are to be. elected by the management committee at the annual general meeting. The Management Committee

The management committee is to consist of a delegate from each club and one non-playing member from each of the following bodies: South Auckland Referees’ Association, South Auckland Secondary Schools and South Auckland Primary Schools sub-unions. The above delegates to be appointed by their own clubs. -The president shall act as chairman of the management committee, five being necessary to form a quorum.

The management committee shall be the executive and shall have power to manage and control all inter-union matches and any other they consider desirable. The annual affiliation fee for each club shall be not less than £2 2s.

Finance: All gate money is to be •controlled by the South Auckland Rugby Football Union. Affiliated clubs ;to. be responsible for collection and payment to the controlling body. Legitimate expenses to be paid by these clubs from gate receipts. Profits at ,the end of the season to he divided 50 per cent to the South Auckland Rugby Football Union and 50 per cent to affiliated clubs.

Referees: The home club will be responsible for appointment of referees for all home games.

Weights fox' gi'ades: Junior, open; thirds, .11 stone; allowance 51bs during season; fourths, 9 stone lOlbs.; allowance 51bs during season. The committee stated: “We would request your club to consider the proposed alterations and submit to sub-union the result of your considei - ations for discussion at a special meeting of the South Auckland Rugby Football Union which will be called at an early date. The committee is of opinion‘that these proposals if carried into effect will be of great benefit to Rugby football in this territory. Stronger Clubs Essential “With the elimination of some of the weaker clubs the players affected would join elsewhere thereby strengthening these clubs and providing a higher standard of play,” continued the report. “There is no question that there are too many senior teams in South Auckland and players are playing in these teams who should be playing in lower grades. Our senior club football is definitely in need cf improvement, and by relegating players to the grade to which they belong thus eliminating the weakei clubs, the standai'd of senior football n capable of improvement “The South Auckland Rugby Football Union has a hard task each year in balancing its budget and the scheme suggested will go a long way to solving this problem. We contend ihat our representative team should n{v\c a tour further afield than Auckland every two years. Under the present financial scheme this is quite impossible If the union could guarantee a tour every two years players would

have more incentive to train and with our representative team playing more matches the public would be better catered for,” concluded the report.

The general opinion semes to b. that the scheme will he given a trial this season.