THE DECLINE OF THE RUGBY GAME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11889, 12 May 1899, Page 7

THE DECLINE OF THE RUGBY GAME.

SCHEME. OF REL'OXCILIATION. . ’ • ' (P,iII 31 all CazvUc.). Union, or, rather, a good understanding ■with the Northern Union, will be resisted to tire death by the Rugby Unionists of the South- Such is the wax-blast of those who have latterly spoken or written on the subject.' The matter is not even discussed ; it is dismissed with the simple utterance- of. non possumus. It is this persistent refusal to look at the possibili- . ties of a situation in the face and to examine thoroughly into questions that has led to the present state of things ■in Rugby football. The Northern Union •is an unclean thing, even the shadow of the name is a taint on the. high-dasl* Brahminism of the ultra-poxist. To suggest the idea of reconciliation in the ears of those who would not set foot upon a Northern Union field is at once to speak to a man who immediately becomes deaf to any argument you may propound. Yet these men are the individuals who are destroying amateurism. They do not think so, they refuse to see the consequences of their action ; like Nero fiddling as Rome burnt, they watch the decay of the game with complacency; even with satisfaction. But there axe many who are genuinely concerned at the drift of matters, and who are asking themselves, “What can be done . to stop the rot?” And the number of these latter is continually on the increase. They do not want professionalism, and they would gladly do all they can to stop the spread of the professional game; but they note the continual increase of the . professional clubs and the steady decline . of' the amateur, and they ask, Why is ■ ‘ this? The Rugby Union policy is answerable mainly for the process, which must be patent to all save those who refuse to see. Cannot something he done? That is the' cry. of the unprejudiced amateur. Reconciliation with the Northern Unionists is not tq bo undertaken for the purpose of introducing professionalism into the Rugby Union, but with the object of preserving the amateur. This may appear ■ paradoxical,'but at least the idea deserves to be discussed, not to be dismissed with : ' the cortness of one who refuses to have nothing to do with the Northern pariah, . and who . condemns their game without seeing it, though he does not hesitate to criticise and discuss it for the purpose of proclaiming its worthlessness. • On what lines should reconciliation be. suggested? First, the Rugby Union cannot recognise or admit professionalism in any shape or form. That is the first term of reference. Therefore, any club playing, professionals in its team cannot be a member of the Rugby Union. This would preserve the amateur character of the Union, and ensure ■ that legislation would be entirely * in the ’ hands of the amateurs. Woull not this regulation sufficiently safeguard all the interests of the amateur? Nor could any club in the Rugby Union be ' allowed to become a member of the Northern Union, and thus the two bodies would be kept distinct. But with this ‘ line of demarkation there should be no embargo placed upon ' Rugby clubs debarring them from playing with Northern clubs.' Nor .should 'amateurs in the Northern clubs be declared professionals simply because they play with professionals. The inan should be answerable for his own act and not suffer for the deeds of another. Professionalism is not wanted, and Scobs--1 men and Irishmen will have nothing to do with England if that country plays a professional in any team; so the professional must be kept out of international matches, and rightly, for as long as Scotland and Ireland are strictly amateur, it is > . THE AMATEUR STRENGTH OF ENGLAND that must be-opposed to them. This is a general line, namely, that a Rugby club playing a, Northern club shall ‘ hot forfeit fte status in the Rugby Union, and that the amateur of the Northern Union shall be eligible for international matches. If both parties can give and take on these broad lines'there is hope for a revival of the strength of England for international contests; at present the outlook is dark and gloomy. There would be no compulsion on Skßugby Union club to play the Northerners. The Richmond Club, a club in which the antiquated notions are particularly strong, could keep to itself as heretofore, and by declining matches with clubs that had committed the unpardonable sin of making fixtures with one of the enemy, could still maintain its present lofty situation of immaculate righteousness. This is only an example, as an j "illustration of how a compromise would not * -affect those clubs who do not desire any ’ approach to be made towards the Northern Union. ,They can still remain in statu quo. ‘ But by permitting other clubs to play with the Northerners without .forfeiting their membership .with the Rugby Utliqjp. they will , r be xoaieriallyassistiug their wesdeer brethren, ■ of whom, as an illustration, Aspatria ,| 'Club may be quoted, Thecgeographical position of that unfortunate;;club is such.; that it must die or join the Northern Union. : Under.the scheme suggested it could live and

still remain amateur. It could either join the 1 League of its district or arrange friendly j matches with the neighbouring Clubs of the Northern Union. To Join th 6 League may be difficult, as forfeiting the status of the club in,the Rugby Union, but this diffi- { culfcy can ,be overcome if there is a disposition’to give and take between the two Unions, j If playing in'League matches the club must submit to be under the jurisdiction of the ! Northern Union as far as those matches are' concerned, while the Northerners must he willing to admit them to these games on terms that shall not forfeit membership with the Rugby Union. It is only a question of good feeling and an honest wish on both sides to do everything to maintain amateurism. But as long as the conflicting bodies are,not on speaking terms a conference is impossible, and, what might easily . be arranged if both parties were of one "mind, as regardsthe dll-imporidntpoint of preserving amateurism - becomes surrounded with barriers that are insurmountable. Tomorrow will see Aston Villa, the leading professional club in Association circles, competing with Queen’s Park of Glasgow, the representative amateur club, for the Dewar-j Challenge shield. The Queen’s Park presents I an excellent illustration of the theory of survival of amateurism. Presuming that under I the Association code a player became a j professional by the act of playing with or against a paid player, how long would the Queen’s Park continue to exist? Ifc ! would soon follow the fate of many Rugby clubs, and die of inanition through want of sustenance. But it has been enabled to continue the traditions of the past and’ maintain its ancient glory because it has been able to Join in all Scotch gaines. The Scotch Association can tell the same tale. Depletion of players off to the rich goldfields of English clubs brought about THE RECOGNITION OP PROFESSIONALISM over the Border. Yet within the ranks of that Association the Queen’s Park holds an honourable position of the highest status. The professional bogie has been robbed of his terrors by the legislation of the Northern Union; The strict registration, the inflexible rule of no work no play, must shut out the loafer. The “straightforward honourable* professional, can no longer be regarded as a diseased member conveying infection to 1 all who have dealings with him. Are Mr .Ball and Mr Hilton to be considered as forfeiting their amateur status in golf because they play a round with Taylor, Vardou, or Herd? Now that the professional has been put in his right place .it is time that the ultra-purists .should examine the position. The suggestion. made may 0e entirely false, and may lead to disastrous results. Frankness compels this admission, but the possibility ought nob to deter the rulers of the game from discussing the ques- . tion. The spectacle of a narrowing union, | declining in influence, deteriorating in play,' ( and losing ground all round must be regarded with apprehension. . What can be done?. The Rugby Union is drifting, slowly , it may be, but surely, to national disaster, while the-captains and steersmen obstinately maintain the old course, and decline to bring the ship’s bead round, the crew standing helplessly on deck, hesitating to break through the* discipline which forbids them to make suggestions to their officers. It is the stolid apathy, total want of spirit and enterprise, that keeps the Union steeped in lethargic indifference. A conference with the Northern Union would entail endless ; trouble and disturb their ease. The heated conflict of the committee-room has been : changed to the old placid order of things now that the energetic Northerners have been excluded. The warm debates of the past ten years have been succeeded : by a comfortable calm, most soothing to the .harassed legislators The committee-room •is now a delightful meeting-place for friends, and the pipe of peace is smoked m calm delight Meanwhile the vessel drifts, drifts, and each moment’s delay renders the task of beating off the rocks more difficult and dangerous. Cannot some member of the j committee have the courage to bring the . matter forward ere it be too late. An: academic discussion, if this be the only ; step taken, can do no harm, but it may ■ eventuate in much good. The bogie would j not appear so dreadful, and if no reunion 1 is to take place, then it would be because it had been found to be impracticable, and not because the idea had been dismissed without reflection or discussion. On the decline of the Union there can be but one opinion as to its causes, and of remedies there may be many; but the decline can be stayed only by examination and discussion, not by wilfully shutting the eyes and walking blindfold in the old course." Salvartion may be found in action ; it certainly will not be ..arrived at by sitting still and refusing t<> do anything. ,