BAD TEMPERS AND ROUGH RUGBY

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1946, Page 6

BAD TEMPERS AND ROUGH RUGBY

-Press AssociatiOn

REFEREES AND UNION ASKED TO TAKE ACTION

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 18. Coucern at tlie evidence or rough football, was expressed by members at today's meetiug of the exeeutive comuiittee of the New Zealand Kugby Unifm. It was made clear that any criticism was not intended as suggestiug inleri'ereuce with the administration of. local unions, but the cvidenee was deemcd suJlicieut to warrant issuiinr .. , . O a directiou to uuions urging the tirmest possible control by rcferees and action in accordance with the rules. It also decided to investigate the question of all unions being reeoinmended to adopt the Otago Union's by-law empowering line nmpires and inuiiagement eommittee oliicials to take action wliere they see iiistauces of rough play. Tlie subjeet was iutroduccd by Mr. C. Mullany who said thero liad been disgracei'ul displays of bad temper at Atliletic I'ark last Eaturday and the referee had not seen fit to send anyliodv olL If rcferees would not take a Jirm shuid it was up to the controlling bodies to do so. The conduct in Satur(lay's uuiin gaine at Athlctie Park was such that it was sufticient for the poliee to have laken action for assault. The cliairman (Mr. S. 8. Dean) said it was not the conimittee's function to interfcre witli tlie jurisdiction by local unions, following a furtker suggestion by Alr. AluJlany tliat consideration be giveu lo empowering unions to take action wliere referces did not do so. •Mr. A. McDonald drew attention to a bv-l aw which had operated sueeessfully in .Dunedin, empowering line unipircs and members of the management comuiittee to take action when they saw instanees of really rough football. Tlie player or players concerned were granted the right to bring evidence in support of their defenee. It was agreed to ask all unions to iustruct referees to take the firmest possible action provided under the rules for rough play and also to investigate the. Otago Union's by-law furtker with the possibility of' its being recommended for universal adoption.