RUGBY STYLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 15

RUGBY STYLES

OPINION OF P. J. NEL DOMINION PLAYERS PRAISED "It is interesting to compare the different styles of Rugby played in various countries," said Mr. P. J. Nel, captain of the Springbok team which toured New Zealand last season, at an after-dinner speech recently. "Our game is similar to that played in England, but the styles in Australia and New Zealand are somewhat different. "In Australia the game was kept going under very great difficulties. Rugby should bo firstly played for the game, secondly for the player, and thirdly for the public. In Australia it was just the reverse. Rugby was played for the public, and so the international rules were altered. "All international matches," Nel continued, "had to be played under international rules, and that there was no necessity for these rules to he altered in Australia and New Zealand was demonstrated by the big attendances during the tour. When i\o played at Hamilton, New Zealand, the attendance was 22,000 out of a total population of about 28,000 in the town." Nel said the Springboks found only a few good players in Australia. The rest were only indifferent. In New Zealand, however,, there were many first-class players. There, Rugby was the game of the Prime Minister down to the dock worker. He had also been impressed by the way the game had been followed by the women, young and old. Nel estimated that 40 per cent of the attendances at matches during the tour in New Zealand comprised women and their knowledge of the game was most surprising. Nel urged all Rugby players to devote more attention to their practices. Rugby, he said, wjis a game of sprinting and walking.