RUGBY WEEK’S SUSPENSION OF JUNIOR PLAYER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 22

RUGBY WEEK’S SUSPENSION OF JUNIOR PLAYER

A Sydenham junior A grade player, F. Avia, who was ordered off in a match against Merivale at North Hagley Park last Saturday, was stood down for one playing Saturday by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. In a letter to the committee the referee of the match (Mr L. Hunt said that the order-ing-off was the culmination of three separate breaches of laws. “Fifteen minutes from the start of the game I observed Avia deliberately obstruct an opponent following up a kick through by moving across into his path and turning his back on him,” the letter said. “The second infringement occurred some five minutes later. As a set scrummage went down and before the play had recommenced, I observed Avia throw a punch that connected with the face of his opposing prop. I immediately broke up the scrummage, called the two captains, pointed out to Avia the error of his ways and issued to both front rows a general warning and suggested to the captain that for the good of all concerned Avia should be changed over to loose head prop. This advice was accepted, and Avia changed over. “A few minutes later, from

a throw-in from touch the ball had been taken to the ground by several players of both sides. Avia was not involved in this particular phase of play, but for no reason apparent to me he leapt violently on the back of an opponent just in front of him and bore him to the ground. I immediately Stopped play and ordered Avia off, at the same time informing him of the reason,” the letter said. Asked whether he wished to add anything to his letter, Mr Hunt said that there had been three separate and distinct breaches, and Avia had been spoken to on each occasion. On the second occasion when he had remonstrated with Avia for hitting an opponent, Avia had said that the other player had kicked him when the scrum went down. “When Avia had been ordered off he looked at me blankly and didn’t say a word,” Mr Hunt said. Player’s Explanation Avia, when called before the committee, said he was not able to speak good English, but he would explain as best he could. In the first incident a scrum went down and after it had broken up the referee spoke to him for obstruction, but he, Avia, did not know what had happened. In the second incident, Avia said, he went down in a scrum and slipped to his knee. An opponent caught him with a knee in his face and the blow had caught him on his ear. “When I got up I went a bit silly in the head and I hit him,” Avia said. Because of the blow in the ear Avia said he could not hear very well. The third offence occurred in a line-out, Avia said. “A boy marking me caught the ball, and then the ball went away. I put the boy down on the ground and the referee pulled me up and I didn’t know why. I did not know what had happened.” The president (Mr H. C. Blazey): Are you familiar with the rules? Avia: Yes, I know the rules. Mr Blazey: Have you played much Rugby? Avia: Yes, I played a few games at home. Mr Blazey: You know you must play within the rules, you must keep them and not break them. Avia: Yes. Mr Blazey: You now realise you must first know the rules and second, you must play to them. I hope you do that in future. If you break the rules you must suffer the penalty for breaking them. Avia said that before leaving he would like to apologise to the referee for spoiling the game. When Avia left Mr O. Noonan asked Mr Hunt if there was the possibility that Avia had found it hard to understand what had been told him. Mr Hunt said that now that he had heard Avia talk he thought that this could have been so. But there was no indication in the game that Avia did not understand his rulings. He had spoken concisely to him. and, as he had mentioned before. Avia had just looked blankly at him when ordered off. After a short discussion Mr R. W. Thomas said that the committee should uphold the union’s rules and he moved that Avia be stood down for two weeks. Father B. O’Brien said that he felt that Avia was clearly not as experienced as the usual junior player and moved that Avia be stood down for one Saturday. Mr W. Dailey supported this amendment and it was carried on the voices.