FITNESS FOR RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19882, 8 March 1939, Page 10

FITNESS FOR RUGBY

GEORGE GILLET’S VIEWS

1940 AFRICAN TOUR

The part which physical fitness plays in the game of Rugby is reviewed in the Auckland Star by Mr. George Gillet, a member of the 1905 All Black team which toured Britain and who lived for a time in the Gisborne district.

“The New Zealand representatives are to return the South African team’s visit in 1940,” Mr. Gillet writes, “and I think earnest aspirants for the tour should be on the move and doing some solid phyical training to fit themselves for a strenuous season. If the 1940 All Blacks are to return victorious, a vast improvement will need to bo shown by our team, and this can only be brought about by the necessary attention to solid training of the right kind for 12 months and a close study of the tactics and conditions under which the team will be playing. “I have always been a firm believer in the blackboard as part of shed training and around-the-table talks, so long as players are keen. Of course, if they are not keen they should not be there!

Better Training Facilities Now

“By comparison, the present-day facilities for training are miles ahead of 40 years ago—travelling facilities, dressing rooms, shower baths and massaging should ensure teams taking the field in perfect condition. Despite these inducements to train, I am sorry to say that one finds only half the teams in proper condition to play to a hand finish.

“Apart from letting the team down, unconditioned players are easily injured and are responsible for much waste time. The ambulance officers render good service, I know, but I always contend that their activities should be confined to the side-line. “Our old friend Bill Cunningham, and a number of oilier old players 1 could mention, would scorn the idea of any medical attention on the field of play and would pass caustic remarks to others who availed (hemselves of such attention. I don t think the game should he slopped for many of the minor mishaps on the playing field.”