Standard of Rugby

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19564, 1 May 1935, Page 8

Standard of Rugby

REFEREES TOO TECHNICAL.

DISCUSSIONS IN HAMILTON.

LACK OF 'CO-OPERATION.

VALUE OF FITNESS. Various viewpoints were discussed and many orltlolsms offered at a combined meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Union management committee, the selectors and coaches of all teams In the Union and representatives of the Hamilton Rugby Referees’ Association held last evening prior to the weekly meeting of the management committee. Mr A. E. Gibbons, chairman of the committee presided- The meeting was called with an endeavour to Improve the standard of play In Hamilton and many helpful criticisms were offered.

In opening the meeting the chairman stated that no doubt many would differ with him on certain criticisms he intended to make tout he expressed the opinion that the replies to his criticisms would itend to make those present amend their opinions accordingly. “ Now the first point I wish to make is that for some time past there seems to 'have been a 'lack of co-operation between the player and the management committee,” continued 'Mr Gibbons. “ The player seems to have regarded the management committee as a thing apart and incorrectly refers to it as the Union. The Hamilton Union is comprised of every member of every club and the management committee is made up of club members who have been elected by their respective clubs for the purpose of conducting the Union’s affairs in the best interests of all members. For the past year or so the management committee has had a most .difficult time, the standard of play has been poor and the interest of the public has waned, and as a consequence the Union’s income has fallen away to such a degree that it has been difficult to meet our commitments. Under these trying circumstances the management committee has been doing its best hut as no individual is infallible, similarly, although in a lesser degree, a committee makes mistakes and perhaps our management committee has made some.

“ The Union has certainly been criticised by the players and although constructive criticism is always welcomed, it has seemed to me that all the ills that this country Is heir to, from cuts and wages tax to a line umpire’s decision, have been laid at the door of the management committee. In fact, I might almost say that In the players' minds the management committee has been unable to do anything right. An Undesirable Spirit. “ This has not created a desirable spirit and the sooner players realise that the management committee is here to do its very best in the interests of the players and Rugby, the better for all concerned. The management committee sweats mentally, and freezes physically in this room for three hours every week for six months and gets nothing out of it in return but kicks and hard words. I ask you coaches and club delegates to see that all your club members get the right perspective in respect to the management committee. “ The next people I wish to refer to are the referees. They have the most difficult job of all and appear to have been booted equally with the ball and the management committee. While players have always bowed without question to the referee’s rulings, there has been a good deal said of them off the held which has readied their ears and, to a degree, sapped their confidence. If players knew the rule's a bit better and did not point, the referee’s job would be much more pleasant and the players would get a great deal more enjoyment out of the game.

“ However, the referees have, In my opinion, become too technical, Most of them have become exceptionally well versed In the rules, but I think that as a result of this and also from their learned weekly meetings, they have lost, to a degree, the art of Interpreting the spirit of the game and have rather Interpreted the law.

Hazy on Laws

“Many of the greatest referees it has toeen my privilege to play under and to watch have been slightly hazy on the liner rulings of the game, but somehow seem to have ruled fairly and given enjoyment and satisfaction to players and public alike. I think that as we arc all doing a stock-taking that they in their wisdom might also go into til is question individually and collectively. “ Willi the coaches resls the players and the game they are going to turn on. They should see that their men train—the untrained player gets hurt, loses most of the enjoyment of the game and lets his team down. In coaching never lose sight of the true spirit of Rugby—it is a game, a great game, and keep it a game. Its a healthy, virile spurt for sportsmen The playing held is not a place lor a display of brute strength or a ruthless spirit of win at any price.

“ Make the players play hard, but pla>' clean. Teach them fair play, honest play; teach them as many bright moves as they are capable of executing and let us this year ’get back to the high plane our football was on a few years ago.

“ For Hie last few years the management commillee lias placed Ilie club player before every oilier consideration, but club games have been <o poor that they have not attracted Ihe public and if the same policy is pursued and club play does not improve, it will mean we shall cither have lo give up Rugby iPark—which is un-thinkable—-or make a levy on players; for illo players Rugby is a very cheap sport in New Zealand as compared with England,” concluded .Mr Ribbons

(Continued in next column.;

“As an alternative we can play more representative games and 'this year’s management committee will have to go very fully into this alternative bearing in mind the interests of the club players as well.” Mr J. Tuck contended 'that the best referee shoiuld always control the game on No- 1 ground as players under a good referee would play good Rugby, lie also contended that the onus of making players fit was not on the coaches but on the players themselves and recommended 'that the selectors should drop a player who was not physically fit. The opinion that the referee’s first consideration was to know the rules of Rugby from A to Z was expressed by Mr A. C. Watkins, a representative of the Referees’ Association. He thought that the players not knowing the rules and the numerous changes that had taken place in the rules during the past few years was the principal reason why there were so many stoppages owing to infringements of the laws. He urged the Union to give the players more consideration. Fostering of Social SideThe opinion that one of the best ways to improve the standard of play was to foster the social sides of the clubs was expressed toy Mr J. R. FitzGerald. He agreed with Mr Watkins that training on one night a week was not sufficient for any player.

“ Our Rugby has undoubtedly deteriorated and I think one of the chief causes Is because the players only see eac hother twice a week —at practice and on the field of play,” he added. “ The players should meet more frequently and not only discuss tactics for the approaching game, but point out each other’s mistakes In

the game of the Saturday before. “if we foster roe social side we will again have the proper Rugby spirit, and the 'Standard of play will consequently improve.” “ The maze of rules and the referees’ technical interpretation of them have undoubtedly had a bad influence on Rugby,” commented Mr A. J. Cross. ” Rugby is a sporting game and should be controlled in a sporting spirit, not in'a technical spirit. Nothmakes a game duller than a referee ‘ playing a tune on his whistle.’ "

That the referees should not experiment with referees for important games was the opinion of Mr A. S. Gliffe who added that the appointment board should be certain that the referee they select, can make the game a good one. lie added that the referee's main objective should be to make Hie game clean and bright and a delight to players and spectators and not to look for every little technical mistake- Under a good referee the meeting of tw‘o mediocre teams would produce bright football. Appearance of Players-

Mr ClilTe strongly criticised the manner in which some of the players came on lo the Held. He remarked that a lcam with clean and uniform gear, properly numbered, looked like players and created a good impression right from the 'Start. The lale appearance of players consequently keeping the speelalors wailing for the ,gauio to commence was also mentioned by *.\i_y Clide and lie appealed to players lo be ready in ample time lo lake the Held sharp oil lime. “ In my opinion one of the chief reasons of the deterioration of Rugby is the kick into touch,” said Mr E. J. 1,. Whiting. “ Kicking into touch has now become a distressing habit with most players and nothing makes the play more dull. No one can expect spectators lo attend Rugby Park to sco the ball monotonously kicked out by every player Saturday after Saturday.” .Mr Whiting added that Rugby was a sporting game and if Liie right spirit was inculcated into Ihe players they would play the sporting type of game, lie thought that I lie players could quite reasonably revert hack to Hie old system of doing more willi Ihe ball than kicking it into touch on every occasion. Often it was policy to kick the ball out but the players if they played Ihe game in Hie proper spirit would rather throw it about and make f - -game qf iL