PLEA FOR STRENUOUS RUGBY
“GAME NOT HARD ENOUGH”
(United Press Association)
AUCKLAND, March 15.
A plea for more strenuous Rugby was made by Mr A. A. Baker, chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union management committee, at the annual meeting of the Manakau Rovers’ Football Club.
Referring to the Springboks’ victories, Mr Baker said too many soft footballers were playing today and the game was not hard enough. It had degenerated from the high, standard of earlier years and must be restored to that position. Rugby had fallen off badly in recent years and must be made tougher by hard tackling and hard forward play. It was largely an individual question and every player should be trained to stand up to a vigorous and strenuous contest from the start to the finish.
Rugby had reached a very low ebb, said Mr Baker, but New Zealanders were just as capable as players from overseas if they would introduce more systematic and uniform coaching methods.
Mr T. H. Pearce, in expressing the players’ attitude, said: “If you want hard football we’ll play it, but we want to know the referees’ attitude beforehand.”
The subject will be discussed at a special meeting with the referees.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 23460, 17 March 1938, Page 4
Word Count
201PLEA FOR STRENUOUS RUGBY Southland Times, Issue 23460, 17 March 1938, Page 4
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