RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12869, 23 May 1936, Page 11

RUGBY

M ONEY-M A KING R UGB Y

A DVEILSE CRITICISM IX SOUTH A ERICA

CROWDS “UNSEEMLY” LAST YEAR

A spirited criticism of tlie increasing tendency of' some Rugby unions toi arrange “monej- earning matches,” which had a tendency to damage, not only the spirit, hut also the standard of Abb' game was made by Air. A. J. Pienaar, the president, at the annual general meeting of the South African Rugby Football Board in Capetown.

There was a, full muster oj delegates. Air. Pienaar before presenting the annual report of he board referred to the unusual activity displayed by some unions last season. Last year there was no- Currie Cup tournament, but a number -of friendly interprovincial matches'were staged.

He quite appreciated the fact thaf some unions were under financial pressure. “But/ at> the same time I want, to sound a; note of warning against the practice- of staging -so many games, because we are then marching too far in advance in many ways, so that the. commercial side of the game becomes too important..

The unions have had to look round for purely money earning games, and I am certain that if this., tendency can {f mi-os- we are going to- head town ids damaging the game—not only the sp'rit, hut the standard a.s well,” Another unpleasant feature of the game, which was prominent last, season even in club matches, was- the unseemly behaviour of (lie crowds.

In lu’s opinion, fboxo bad manners were duel to the fact thati the game lin'd l , rj traded to itficlf! quite a- large number -of 1 people who did no J 4 know the. game. L<‘ko the players, the spectators .•should) place their trust in the. referee.

“While our players arc content io place their trust in the referee, X think it- is entirely wrong- for anyone in th,a crowd to shout- out to- thV players and the referee,” continued Mr. Pienaar.

1 “I. am certain ifi the people will only realise that. by trusting the rclcrco as they do the- players, we shall not have! these d'splay.i of unseemly behaviour. I quite- appreciate the importance of having good referees, and .1 feel that our unions -should: give all the support, then can io referees’ societies. Wo would rather have a good, referee than- a.man who is over pedantic. Wo want men who.can inspire confidence, and I feel that our referees’ societies have >:he , righti.vpr.

“This year wo have to look forward to a Currie Clip tournament and. I a.m certain we can anticipate an interesting season.” he continued.- “In- addition to this tournament, the interosifi will ho heigh toned, by the fnisp that wo have an overseas' tour the following year.” Xfr. Pienaar paid a tribute to Mr. George Ki&rek, the board’s representative in London, and to Messrs;. E-obi and Schreiner,- Aviio- were selected! Co rejiresent the board, at A meetings -of t-lie Rugby Union 'n 'K-nglaiid with • representatives of the iDomiii..toiis. '

A. police guard l wds pin, red rout'd flic bouse of Johnny Farrell, the: famous Aimrioniv golf cry following the report that. . Mrsu .Far.'ell had; l seen, prowlers -ncAr-by and, fienrecl kidnapping; Farrell, who won the American op©n championship ■ in, 1923 after a play-off..- with: .“Eobby” Jones-, writs ! away in St. August-iiie, Florida, eo-m----pet-ing' in go-lfung itGiuriia-mehtsp Mr-s l . I Farrell was alone with -her three small i; children. -• .y -r -■

RUGBY TALKS

OLIVER VERY INDUSTRIOUS Oliver, the deputy-captain of the 1936 All Blacks has been, very industrious lately, for, besides giving talks at several- meetings in Canterbury, h,<? flew up to address one at Blenheim. As might be expected from a man with over a decade in representative football in three countries, his hints on trairiing and tactics are interesting. He advocates hill Walks as the best means cl’/ getting ready ,for tho seasoh, with a few half-pace jogs for two or three weeks, followed by jogs, .short. sprints and fast, walks} on the training ground. He emphasises, however, that nothing makes a player! fit like plenty of games and nothing “stales” him quicker than too much fast work before the season opens. Ho also urges variety in practice, such, as the hacks playing the fonvards ni/ Soccer with a Rugby hall.

If-ci thinks diet largely a matter for the individual, hut says that no player should take liquid on Hie morning of a match, and says that for a 2.3(> or 3 o’clock gaine (lie lunch should not lie later than 12, and their only a grill ,and rice pudding, “if you like rice pudding.”'

Tn Blenheim he discussed the scrum formations, emphasising the necessity of forwards packing low, especially in the front row. Tie declared) that it was only in the sixth or seventh game that tho All Blacks learned how to get down ‘n tlie three-four-orib serum, which lie did not like lor all-round purposes as much as the three-two-throe. .

W. E. Hadlov, in -a statement in Auckland, has also emphasised the necessity of low packing in the. serums, and of the front row men pushing just like the rest.

KEENNESS IN BRITAIN

ENLIVENING INFLUENCE OF w ALL BLACKS .

Tit; tour of the All Blacks through Croat Britain and Ireland stirred up football and public interest on all sides. Iri discussing the Cardiff match against. Ireland, the special correspondent of the Afanohester Guard jan said that: “If ever tiro Rugby fotball teams deserved to draw, then Wales and Ireland did on March 14Unfortunately for Ireland one of the fc-tv) free kicks which she gave away cost a penalty goal, whereas the Welsh pack was penalised 11. time", without serious results. Welsh trends of the whiter were the first to deplore that their team; had won by Ribs goal and to admit that a draw would have been the fairest verdict.

“Cardiff Arms Park is said to hold about 55,000 spectators ■ certainly not more can see the play properly. At the Irish match there were some 70,OiiO persons, authorised and. unauthorised inside the gates, and 10,000 more gnashing their teeth outer de. Many were injured in the crush, and one man collapsed and died:,

“Sections of the crowd inside the ground were out of hand, and it was only by good luck and as the- result of appeals to their sportsmanship by the referee and the Welsh captain that it was possible to begin, letalone finish, the match.” sard the Manehv-ster writer.

The British public is interested! in great Rugby matches even more than in the past. The Engl’sh and ‘Welsh success against the All Blacks had an enlivening; influence in all directions in If,-35136.