“OPEN”CLUBS AND “OLD BOYS”

Southland Times, Issue 25347, 26 April 1944, Page 4

“OPEN”CLUBS AND “OLD BOYS”

ENTRY DISCUSSED BY RUGBY UNION

The entry of a team from the Collegiate Football Club, hitherto a junior club, in the Southland Rugby Union’s senior competition prompted discussion on the merits and demerits of “old boys’” clubs at the meeting of the union on Monday night. Mr D. Robinson (Pirates) said he was not opposed to the entry of the club, but he claimed that it was not in the best interests of the game in Invercargill, and he predicted that the effect would be the eventual demise of the Pirates Club. When asking for consideration of the Collegiate Club’s entry the chairman (Mr H. Grace) said that he was pleased to see the entry of six teams in the senior competition. The Collegiate Club was a young club which had proved itself in junior football, and he commended the enterprise which had prompted the club to seek senior status at a stage when it would be beneficial to the game in Invercargill. “I think it is a good thing for the game, and the entry will enable us to conduct a six-team competition,” commented Mr Grace. “I really think it will benefit the game. The club will not draw upon any other club for its players—it has a good feeding ground in the college and there will be no need to recruit players from other clubs.” Mr Robinson: Will they take any players from the Pirates Club? Mr J. L. Oughton: The other clubs will be protected—any request for transfers will have to come through the union. >

Mr Robinson: But will the union refuse the transfers? I don’t think so. Our club will be the one most affected and eventually it must go out. FATE OF “OPEN” CLUBS

Mr Robinson went on to say that “old boys’” clubs would get all the players in the end, and the “open” clubs Would go but of existence. He claimed support for his argument by saying that now that the school-leaving age had been increased, boys who ordinarily would link up with “open” clubs would play for the school and “old boys’ ” clubs. .He quoted the Otago Rugby Union’s competition in Dunedin as being the best in New Zealand because, he said, the union there would not permit the creation of “old boys’ ” clubs. He reiterated that the Pirates Club would eventually “go out.”. The chairman: I don’t think so. The two “open” clubs in Invercargill, Pirates and Invercargill, are the two strongest clubs in the town. ’ Mr Robinson: I don’t think it is in the interests of football to have “old boys’ ” clubs. They not only take our players—they take our supporters as well. The chairman: You get all the “floating” footballers who come to the city. Mr Robinson: I am not objecting to the entry, but I don’t think it is in the interests of football. COME TO STAY

“Old boys’ ” clubs had come to stay, and. provided the Collegiate Club did not draw on other - clubs, the union could admit the club as a war measure, said Mr H. S. Strang.

Mr D. K. Torrance agreed that as a war measure it was desirable to admit the club. After the War was over there would be a general stock-taking in Rugby and the position would right itself. “As far as “old boys’ ’ clubs are concerned, it has been my experience that throughout New Zealand they hdve added zest to the competitions and they have brought many supporters to the game,” he added. On the motion of Messrs. I. B. McCurdy and L. R. Lopdell, it was decided to admit Collegiate to senior grade. It was also decided to admit OhaiNightcaps, provided the permission of the Western District Sub-Union was forthcoming.