RUGBY MATTERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 334, 4 March 1915, Page 3

RUGBY MATTERS.

THE CANTERBURY UNION. A meeting of the Management. Committee of the Canterbury l?ugby Union was held last evening. Present: Messrs G. H. Mason (president), F. D. Ivesteven, C. Evans, C. Ilasell, A. E. Byrne, A. MePliail, S. F. Wilson, E.E. 'Craw.shaw, F. T. Evans. Intimation was received from the Lyttelton Club that it would not enter any teams in the union's competitions this year, owing to the majority of the club's players, being on garrison duty at tho port or on active service, abroad. The Albion Club forwarded a list of 1G members who had joined the Expeditionary Forces. The Canterbury College Club's list of members who had joined the forces comprised 15 names. The secretary of the Merivale Club wrote as follows:—"I am instructed to write you expressing my committee's disapproval of certain remarks made by a vice-president at your committee's last meeting, and wish to point out that the members of the senior team, on whom falls the slur, are as loyal as any members who have gone to the front, but circumstances have been against their getting away, although several have volunteered and tried hard, but with no success. Twelve of our players have left for the front, and probably others may follow.''

Members of the committee pointed out that the remarks to which exception was taken were merely made in the course of a conversational discussion, which had not been fully reported, so that the remarks as reported did Hot accurately represent the speaker's opinions.

The secretary of 'the Merivale Club also wrote asking whether the union would consider the reinstatement of two ex-members of the club, who had played under League rules "in the heat of the moment, with all the attractive influences brought to bear upon them." They had regretted the step, and did not play during the 19.14 season, desiring to again play under the Rugby Union. The committee agreed that" applications for reinstatement must come only from the players concerned, and not from clubs. The two players in question will be required to forward personal statements.