Rugby Deteriorates.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20653, 29 June 1935, Page 10

Rugby Deteriorates.

Dear Sir, —I was very glad to read that the members of the Rugby Union have bestirred themselves in connection with the standard of Rugby in Canterbury; in fact, in New Zealand. There is no possible doubt that the standard of play has steadily deteriorated since the adoption of the “ old " rules. The N.Z. Union showed weakness and a lack of consideration for the game itself in allowing themselves to be dictated to by the conservative diehards in England. As a player of some years ago and one who has only the good of the game at heart. I would appeal to the authorities to take drastic action before it is too late, . thinking first of the good old game and not 4 the financial side—by the financial side I mean the profit from tours of England and of New Zealand by English teams. Surely , a country of New Zealand’s standing in the Rugby world should have more say in the making of rules. If this is denied us it would be in the interests of the game to cut ourselves off from the Old Country. I am sure that very satisfactory tours could be arranged with Australian teams, which, by the way’, play the amended rules and certainly much brighter and better football than is seen in this country*. While speaking of tours I consider there are too many teams sent out of the country and that the people of New Zealand get too few opportunities of seeing any high-class football. —I am, etc., RUGBY.