DECISION OF AGE LIMITS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 7

DECISION OF AGE LIMITS

NORTHERN JUNIOR RUGBY TEAMS. POSITION BEFORE COMMITTEE. Important measures relating to the fixing of age limits of junior Rugby teams in northern division competitions were decided at a meeting of the junior management committee last night. Those present at the meeting were Messrs. W. H. Moyes (chairman), L. H. Sampson (Clifton), L. H. Christie (Old Boys), F. C. Ferry (Star), W. Beard (Tukapa), G. N. Skelton (Turangi), A. J. Old (Lepperton), G. Smith (Urenui), and R. C. Wilson (High School) secretary. It was decided that the age limit in the fifth grade should be under 17 and in the fourth grade under 18. In both cases the players must be under the age at June 15. The former age limit of 20 years on third grade players has been waived, provided that clubs entering a third grade team have also a first junior team. The decisions will affect only the northern division and will not obtain in the central and southern divisions. The team winning the divisional championship will be required to have all players under 20. No player can be reinstated from junior to third grade after the fourth playing Saturday. All applications for reinstatement must be made through the junior management committee. A recommendation was made to the Taranaki Rugby Union that a club playing two .third-grade teams should, in the event of its winning the divisional title, be allowed to pick its players from both teams for the play-off. The intention of the recommendation, said the mover, Mr. Ferry, was that by picking from the two teams it would be possible to select a team eligible under the age limit for the play-off. A motion that players in the fourth and fifth grades should be allowed to be played in higher teams in the same grade without permission, but that players from higher teams being transferred to lower teams should require the sanction of the committee, was carried. The motion will become a recommendation to the union. Players in age-limit grades will have to submit their ages, it .was decided. Where possible the ages of players will be verified. The union is to be asked to arrange a representative match for junior teams against Schneider Shield representatives at Pukekura Park in June. Mr. L. Christie was appointed junior sole selector.