RUGBY IN N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1931, Page 8

RUGBY IN N.Z.

-■ —- SOME: CRITICISM. BETTER SPIRIT WANTED. WELLINGTON 1 . March 20. Is Rugby football in New Zealand being played in the true spirit m i*e game? The quest ion was raised ny a speaker at the annual meeting of delegates to the Wellington Rugby Union when a matter affecting the local senior grade competitions was under discussion. “I strongly think our competition system is getting away from the proper spirit of Hie game,” said G. H. AVeir, of the Wellington Football Club. Too nii'ueh penalty is paid for losing a. match. Everything in this country is competition. Wo are competition mad. This should not he. Wo have not gut, flic proper Rugby spirit between clubs M T c should not have to go. out and meet, our Union teams in a game of life and death as we had to do last year.”

He referred to the fact that Mr 4. Baxter, the manager of the British team in New Zealand last year, had expressed the opinion that New Zealanders took their football too seriously. There was no doubt that the game was taken seriously, and one regretta'ble indication of this was the increasing number of accidents. “TAKE A WAV THE CUPS.”

‘‘The. curse of football in New Zealand. to m.v mind, is the presentation pf cups,” remarked T)r. P. F. M’Evody “Too mud) importance is placed noon trophies. Take away the cups and shields and 1 think football will be the better for it.” Dr M’F.vedy explained bow the matches were arranged and played in England, and said that

-..e only weakness was in the fart that the clubs took the “gates.” There was a different spirit about football in England, it did not matter whether the game was won or lost. 'Flit' question was: Did you enjoy the game? Or, was it a docent game? They did not take any notice of a licking there. They went out on to the fields for healthy exercise. Dr M’Evedy sugested that the officials here had a grave duty in to trolling- the spirit of the elu'"-’ ’’

should see to it: that their members bad the true Rugby spirit, and that would go a long way towards enabling the teams to go out for clean exorcise and clean enjoyment without unnecessary risk. He was of opinion that far to much was loft to the referee on the playing field. The British team which visited New Zealand hist season had provided a wonderful example of the type of game that was wanted, and that example should he followed.

“By doing so we would have a cleaner and better spirit in football (ban we have to-dav,” be added. “Keep the game open, make it. spectacular, and make i( much nicer and cleaner game to play, l'la.v it in the spirit of the game.”