Rough Play In Rugby

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 5

Rough Play In Rugby

The plain speaking which marked the 1957 conference of New Zealand Rugby referees in Whangarei should be welcomed by all Rugby enthusiasts and administrators. It is surely time that there was some plain speaking and Rugby unions should see in some of the discussions and decisions of this conference, a challenge to make modern Rugby worthy of its traditions.

Before this conference, unions would probably have discounted any suggestion that referees believed they did not have the support of the unions if they took the drastic step of ordering a player from the field for rough or foul play. The resolution calling for the establishment of independent judicial committees in each union to consider such cases, however, must be taken as nothing less than a vote of no-confidence in .the union’s ability to judge these matters fairly and also an accusation that in not taking steps to eradicate rough play, the unions condone it.

Desperation

The unions will probably feel indignation at the referees’ suggestion that the judicial powers of the unions should be transferred to an independent body, but it is obvious from the tenor of the referees’ discussions that the resolution was born of desperation—an attempt to give the referee the control he should have on the field and the support of the unions in his decisions. In the light of the absence of union action to stamp out rough play, the referees’ decision is an excellent one.

An article on this page two weeks ago said that referees were hesitant about ordering players from the field because they contended that they were made to appear foolish by an unfavourable decision of the union This contention was thoroughly borne out by remarks made at the conference.

Rugby is by no means the only sport to suffer from dirty play, but in other winter sports—Rugby League, hockey and soccervigorous action is always taken by the controlling bodies when a referee finds it necessary to? order players off. Because of this action referees in these sports control their games with the knowledge that they have the undivided support of the associations if they have to take that step. Players in these sports, knowing that the referees have the backing of the associations, now think twice before indulging in any play that could put them on the side-line for several weeks —or in the case of two soccer players last year, several months.

Lack of Support

Unfortunately in Canterbury, and .other parts of New Zealand, players have noted only too well the lack of support given to referees and the attitude of referees towards rough piay under these circumstances, with the result that rough play has increased. While the union has a duty to Rugby in the province to stamp out foul play, so have the clubs and particularly, the club coaches. Many club coaches, although not openly supporting rough play, a least condone it. The selectors, also can play their part in eliminating this -cancer from Rugby by passing over players they have seen behaving in a spirit alien to the sport. There seems no reason why the combined efforts of administrators, the referees, the club coaches and the selectors should not eliminate foul play. If they can —and they should make every endeavour to do so—then at future conferences of referees when rough play is discussed, the Canterbury delegates would be able to say that such discussion did not apply to Rugby in Canterbury.

Basketball Today

With 185 teams entered for the annual tournament of the Canterbury Basketball Association today, a new record for entries has been established. The previous record was established at the handicap tournament two weeks ago, when 150 teams took part. The tournament will be held in seven grades from senior to sixth grade. In order to complete the games in one day, the senior, senior reserve, and second grade matches will be played in the afternoon. The players in these teams will be used to referee the other matches which will be held in the morning. This is the first season in which both the handicap and annual tournaments have been held at the beginning of the season, but as a result of their unqualified popularity, this system may be continued by the association in the future.