RE-GRADING OF PLAYERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17946, 3 May 1928, Page 8

RE-GRADING OF PLAYERS.

A CLUB’.S PROTEST.

DEPUTATION TO RUGBY UNION.

A deputation from th ® ball Club waited on a special rttestiagof the Management Committee Of tne South Canterbury Rugby Union evening, to discuss the has arisen in connection With Permit Committee’s decision to. regrade several players from thaFClub, ■ as well as players from other Clubs. The Management .Committee were re-, r presented, by the Rev. Father Kerley (in the chair), and Messrs G. Fairbrother, W. A. Cumming, D. Hertnon, J. Wilson and Dr. W. R. Fea. The deputation comprised Messrs A. G. Knowles (president), A. Tyson and C. Clarkson, and G. P. Lawson of the. Old Boys’ Club, who, it was stated, was asked to attend by the. Star Club. ' Mr Knowles said that ; the Star. Club had received something: P* a . surprise when they found the number of players the Union had thought fit to ye-grade was so large. _ The Union were making a mistake, in grading players before they had been , seen in action this season. The Star, Club thought they knew more abput their players and their merits thin the Rugby Union or the Permit Committee. One player who had been graded from junior to senior, had never played under a Rugby Union, and had been confined to friendly, railway matches at Christchurch. What the Club suggested was that they be given a fortnight in which to play the men to get an idea of' their* form, and then, if necessary, the question of regrading could be'Considered. This year the Club was striving to field nine teams, but The;:; Union were not assisting the; Club to attain, their object. He hoped that the matter would reeeive rthe , favourable consideration it deserved. The lists Sent in by the Club,were, procured by the . secretary,' MrKnowles stating; that the Club had' intended to grade several playefs m the various grades. It was intended* to put up 14 of the 15 men who,played third grade jast season. ;.... The chairman said that the Classi-, fication Committee had considered the matter of grading, and it had necessitated a great deal of time and work, It was quite likely, however, that a Slip might have been made here and there. Mr Clarkson said that if the players were forced up to senior rank, a lot of them would have to remain, on the bank. Mr Tyson asked if it would not be possible to give the players a couple of games, and then if the Permit Committee thought , fit they could be graded. . . ! The chairman, vyas of opinion/that the* matter should be referred back to the Permit Committee. , Dr. Fea said that the Club had the option of asking The Committee to again regrade players. pH ; Mr Knowles: ‘‘YeS, but they will/ have to stand on the bank foy some time.” . ■ Mr Lawson contended that; the Committee had been a little hasty in their decision. In his opinion they had gone too far, and were interfering with the inside management Of Clubs. If the Union persisted in their attitude, it meant that several players would be on the bank. Several of them would not; join other Clubs, ' which, seemed to be t their' only altet- . natiye. The game was the thing, and it should be the duty of the, Union to see that every man received a game. In his Club there were three or four seniors over, despite the fact = that three juniors had be regraded. These men would not get a game unless they joined another Club; 1 ' They had suggested that in order to' give • the men over a game, some/'of the usual team Stand down each’-Week. He asked how High School would get on for regrading. They had one man in the team capable of playing for any senior team in South Canterbury. Then the Pleasant Point Club had a very good half-back worthy of senior, honours. If the Union interfered with the Clubs they would have’ the Clubs up" against them. The chairman’said he would take exception to Mr Lawson’s remarks in regard to the Union interfering with the management of Clubs. If there was no Permit Committee to’ superintend matters, the Clubs could just do as they wished. They could even play a senior team senior grade one week and junior the next. Mr Lawson: “I mean undue-inter-ference with the Clubs. You’re stretching it a blit.” The chairman said that they cpuld sympathise with the Star Club, but just because a Club had ( several senior players over, It would not be fair to play those men junior against

other junior teams. Dr. Fea said that it should fee the., object of the Union to see that every man got a game. Mr Wilson said that the , £erjnit •*. Committee had made their resolutions on the way they had seen play- r ers. He would stand by the Commit- - tee. If a Club did not think a player was worthy of senior grade, application could be made to have that . player regraded. The Union were there to control the game, and they- ? had only done their duty. . Mr Tyson: “It only means that the: men will have to stand on the bankifY ■ Mr Wilson: “It has been said that . the game Is the thing. Players should:: get a game with some club.” Mr Tyson: “We fought hard to get our players, and we’re going to fight hard to keep thepn” - ■ 1 The deputation then retired. After a short discussion, ' it Was decided to refer the matter back to the Star Club, advising them that if ’ they wished to disagree with the regrading of players, the best course to pursue would be to make the usual application to have players again regraded.