NEXT SEASON'S RUGBY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16141, 20 February 1918, Page 5

NEXT SEASON'S RUGBY.

1 COMPETITION CONDITIONS. FOST-EItING THE JUNIOKS. A namber of interesting proposals in connexion with next season's Rugby football competitions came before the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening in tho form of a report from the Programmes Sub-committee of the Union. The report recommended that the ordinary competitions bo again suspended this season, in. placo.thereof there be held the following competitions:— (1) A first grade competition open to mem. bcr3 of clubs irrespective of age. (2) A second grade competition (open). (3) A third grade competition (open). (4) A fourth grade competition for players who have not reached their 16th birthday on April Ist, 1918. Tho report added that as the fourth grade catered rox young lads who had only recently left school it had' been felt that an age limit waa doairublo in this contest. The comnlittee further recommended that all competition and permit rules and regulations bo suspended, and that tho following be submitted to tho delegates:— (1) That- "the Competitiona' Committee shall have power to classify any player in any team as it deems lit, provided always that a player or team shall have tho right to appeal to the General Committee of ths Union against such classification. (2) That the committee of tho Union shall have power to make such rules and regulations as it thinks fit for tho carrying out of the competitions. With regard to tho fourth grade competition, "the cxecutivo of the Union, it was pointed out, wished to emphasise the urgent need of clubs putting forth every effort to secure young lads to enter this grade both in the interests of the clubs themselves as a means of filling up the depleted ranks and also in the interests of the success of the game generally. Much could yet be done by clubs by way of securing the young' recruit as soon as -he left the primary school. A considerable leakage of young player® occurrcd hero, especially amongst the lade leaving uchool to go to work, and as they had acquired a knowledge of tho game as participants in the school competitions they should be found under the Eugby banner. «To prevent this leakage the executive suggested that the different clubs should interest themselves in the various districts by getting into touch with headmasters, finding out particulars of ox-pupils who had played Rugby, coaching and generally exercising a fostering care to build up a gtrong band of young players. In this, connexion the committee suggested tho following allocation of Bchools: — Addington, West Chnstchuich, Spreydon, Wharenui, and Riccarton—AlDion Club. Normal, Shirley, and, Richmond—Christchurch Club. Elm wood, St. Albans, Fendalton, Papanui, and liaiewood road —ilerivale Club. East Chrktchurch, Linwood, Woolston, pawa, and New Brighton—Linwood Club. Sydenham, Waltham, Beckenliam, and Somerfield —Sydenham Club. The above, the report conlmncd, waa not laid down as a hard and fast rule nor as a district scheme, but as a fair basis on which to work. For tho successful carrying out oi the proposed echome, tho executive felt it absolutely necessary that a ground bo obtained in the district adjacent to each group of schools. The executive would consider favourably any application' for assistance to clubs in -this direction. The High School Old Boys, ilarat Brc«.. Old Boya, and Canterbury College Clubs, it was added, had not been considered in the scheme as they each had their own institutions to draw from. The report was considered from various aspects and it was decided that it should be placed before the annual meeting of delegates. It was also decided to circularise tho | various clubs with reference to the securing of grounds. i '