THE NORTHERN UNION GAME.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12709, 21 March 1911, Page 8

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —I would like to explain to the public a few of the decided advantages the Northern Union game has over the Rugby game. First of all, I want to make it clear that the Northern Union players are not professionals. The League does not pay any man for home or club matches, but pays each man nis wages, viz., 10/ per day, for loss of time whilst on tour. A good deal has been said about the men receiving this 10/- per day, and it is this that has caused them to be called professionals. The New Zealand representatives receive 3/- Per day whilst on tour, yet we hear nothing of professionalism about them. Whilst we admit this is a starvation price compared to the wages earned by the different members of the team, it must also be admitted that the principle of receiving it is exactly the same. The Northern Union game is controlled by the New Zealand Rugby League, with its headquarters at Auckland. I quote the following rules from the bye-laws of the controlling body: (Rule 26) "The Council of Management shall have power and authority to suspend or disqualify any.club; league; or player for breaches of any of its bye-laws or tor rough or unsportsmanlike play, or for doing anything which in the opinion of the Council of Management may bring discredit on others players of the game directly or indirectly under the control of the League." (Rule 29)—-"No club shall compensate any player for playing football except for loss of time. No player shall directly or indirectly receive or take from any club, league or person any sum of money or thing or reward for playing football, unless such receipt is authorised by the controlling body." As I stated before., our idea in starting the new game was to introduce to the public a much faster, more scientific, and educational game, played under rules which considerably lessens the chances of the players being injured. In the Northern Union game the l'ne-out has been abolished. The ball must not be kicked direct into touch except from a free kick. This rule has done away with all the waste time of line kicking and scrummaging after knock-on's from line outs. A player who accidentally knocks the ball on shall not ,be penalised if he obtains possession before it falls s on the ground: This rule has done away with a lot of stoppages during the game. The finest rule we have which differs .from Rugby is:—"When a player is tackled with the ball, both he and the tackier must immediately get up and the tackled player must retain possession of the ball, and im- ' mediately put it do.wn in front of . him; until he has done this he can in no. way be interfered with." This rule has done, away with the old style of gulling (he man along the ground with the ball, packing over him, kicking and kneeling upon . him. You need only listen to the remarks of the crowd to see the benefit of this rule. What,.a,.contrast to hear them shout, "Let Mm 'ut>!'Xe't' Mm up!" compared to the Rugby shout of "Pull him off! Put the boot in!" I respectfully ask the public to give the new game a fair trial, as I am sure the Northern Union players will be ready to stand by their verdict. The only reason the new game has been kept back in the past two years has been the trouble of securing grounds upon which, to play. Once it is placed on the same terms as Rugby in this respect, you can say good-bye to Rugby. Thanking you for your very valuable space, and trusting that some abler pen than mine will explain further, I am etc.,

W. J. PERRETT, Hon. Sec. Wanganui League