WRESTLING IN RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19339, 1 June 1937, Page 7

WRESTLING IN RUGBY

DANGEROUS HEADLOCKS TACKLING APPARATUS COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE Iu older to educate tlie Rnghy players of Poverty Ray in the nrt of low tackling, the purchase of apparatus was considered at last evening’s meeting of the management committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, and it was decided to leave the matter in tlie hands of the grounds committee to prepare, a report. The question was raised by Mr. D. McLeod, who said one of the spectators had mentioned to him the prevalence ol heudloeks as a means of tackling an opponent. If a player was lixcd in a ruck and another player clamped on a headlock serious injury could he done as the subject of the*attack would not be able to move owing to the pressure. As a referee, he said the position was dilhcult because a referee must be sine and by the time the matter came under his notice the damage might be done. He thought that if the captains of Hie teams conferred on the matter they might ho able to stamp but the creeping in of these tactics.

The discussion was taken up by Mr. N. Tasker, the delegate of the Poverty Bay Rugby Referees’ Association, who said that in the eyes of the referees the matter was cpiite legal; if a man had the ball he had to he brought down in Rugby. On the other hand, if there appeared to he a danger to one of the players it is then that the referees could step in to prevent, it. lie was ol the opinion that the trouble lay with the coaches of the teams. Mr. McLeod said the standard of tackling generally was poor and lie asked if the union had ever given any thought to tlie purchase of apparatus to train tllieir players in tackling. Coaches ancl Captains to Act Mr. 0. J. Jeune said that any cases of wrestling holds being used by players should be noted and taken up ly the union with tlie club coaches and captains. Mr. P. C. Edmondson described the tackle as an extension of the high tackle. The meeting was in unanimous .support of tlie need for stamping out wrestling holds and border-line dangerous play, and Mr. G. JL Rccats, the chairman, said that if the referees treated those tactics as dangerous it would he for tlie ultimate benefit of the game. Mr. McLeod did not think Hie cases were many and again raised the question of apparatus. Mr. Edmondson did not think apparatus was necessary. One of the players could he asked to stand in position, and, after going one or two paces the others should start dive tackling at a distance of from 8 to 10 feet. The human target could’swerve or fend and as lie would he prepared he would not he injured in the practice. The main tiling was to teach tlie players to get their feet off the ground ill a tackle. A dummy and mat were suggested by Mr. McLeod, who thought it would give players it better opportunity of measuring their distance and timing their tackles. On the motion of Mr. Tasker, seconded liv tlie chairman, it was decided to leave tlie matter in the hands of the grounds committee.