RUGBY DEVELOPED INTO FREE FIGHTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18785, 14 June 1929, Page 11

RUGBY DEVELOPED INTO FREE FIGHTS.

SPRINGBOK HALF-BACK AND BIG FORWARD COME TO GRIPS. Among the reports of activities on South Africa's Rugby football fields this season is one of a regrettable incident which occurred at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, a few weeks ago. Towards the end of a game between two leading Transvaal teams, “Diggers” and “Simmer and Jack,” players of both teams came to grips, and matters became so lively that the police had to rush on the field. Finally the position was so bad that both teams had to be ordered off the field. The members of both teams, thirty players in all, including the Springbok scrum-half, Devine, who played against the All Blacks, were suspended pending an investigation by a special sub committee. It was stated that the players would not even be allowed to take part in practices, and that the two clubs had to fulfil their senior engagements under threat of drastic action if they defaulted. A subsequent report, however, indicated that there was a likelihood of most of the plaj-ers being reinstated. Players at Grips. Details of the occurrence state that members of one team allegedly made too free use of their boots in loose scrums, but the signal for general disorder was the getting to grips of Devine, the Springbok scrum-half, and Wentzel, a giant forward and captain of the Diggers. Several members of both teams, it is stated, then became actively engaged, and there were several fights in progress at the same time. These were checked temporarily by a rush of police and spectators, and the game was resumed. Shortly afterwards fighting broke out afresh, however, and the match had definitely to be abandoned. Both teams were followed from the ground by large groups of their supporters. At one stage it looked as though trouble between the teams would break out afresh, but fortunately good sense prevailed, and there was no further trouble. Diggers’ team included three

Springboks. Two of the leading boxers in South Africa also played in the match —Lew Campbell, the amateur cruiser-weight champion, who captained Simmer and Jack, and Alf. Wilson, the South African Olympic boxer, who competed in the middle-weight division at Amsterdam last year. Devine played in Johannesburg Test and in both Transvaal matches against the New Zealanders last year, and it was at EJlis Park that all three matches were played. Referee’s Statement. In his report the referee stated that it was a pleasure to referee the game up to twenty minutes from the end. Then wild kicking developed into a free fight, the chief offenders being two members of the Simmer and Jack side and three of the Diggers. One man was ordered off the field. “I then called the captains together,” the referee stated, “and warned them that if I had a recurrence of the same behaviour I would stop the game. It was not five minutes after the game was resumed. when, following the ball down the field, I turned round to see another free fight. I then stopped the play, it was not Rugby at all, but a series of free fights outside the actual place of play. In my opinion the determining cause of the rough play was the fact that the ground is not enclosed, and that for a great part of the time it was practically impossible to keep the spectators from encroaching on the field of play and exhorting their respective teams, thereby rousing the tempers of the players.” Referring to the occurrence the sports editor of the “Cape Times” stated:—“Rough play in South African Rugby has become all too frequent, and probably the whole situation will be reviewed by the South African Board.” _______________