RUGBY CRISIS OVER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 299, 6 September 1918, Page 6

RUGBY CRISIS OVER

THE LATEST MOVE

WELLINGTON UNION GIVES WAY

OLD RULES TO BE FLAYED

The latest move in the Rugby crisis is that the Wellington Union Jias decided to play under the old rules, nob under the amended rules. » The Wellington Union met at the Poneke gymnasium last evening to decide what course they would take. There were present: Messrs. D. D. Weir (chairman). Cf. Howe, Griffiths, Lundon, Millard, Cook, and T. Jones (secretary). , , Mr. Weir reopened tho subject. .Ho said: "A week or so ago we decided to take a ccrtain stand. Much evidence lias bee:i supplied 011 both sides since then, and we are here now to reconsider our verdict and annul it if we think lit. If wo have made a mistake there is only 0110 thing for us as men to do. and that is to admit it and act accordingly. There have been many misstatements made—probably mado unwittingly—but 1 don't think any, of them should interfere with our judgment in' the matter. Wo must view tho ]>osition as wo knpw it. It remains lor you to say what'you are going to do, and the matter is now in your hands."

Mr. Howe: I really think that our position lias got to a very acute stage now. I don't think it was over the intention of the Wellington Union to break the rules of the English Union. Our position seems to me to be clear— we should play the rules of ltugby. It' it was the wish of.the players to play under Auckland rules, aud we camo to our decision at their wish, and now the players say they do not want that game, we who represent them should rescind that motion.

Mr. Millard: 1 do not think tliat that comes into it. The whole tiling seems to me to be tho constitutional position. If we break the rules 'we do not know where it is going to end. If we take a stand against the New Zealand Union we may do harm to Rugby, i move:

That our previous motion to play under the amended rules be rescinded, and that we play under the old rules 011 Saturday. Mr. Howe: I will second thdt.' Without further discussion tho motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr. Weir: Now that that is carried, there is one thing we should make clear. It has been said that we are aiding and abetting professionalism. There is nothing further fronv our minds, and as long as wo are connected with football it' will be as an amateur game. That is your opinion gentlemen ?

Members: Yes. ,-Tho chairman: We are unanimous. ' Another' matter was mentioned by Mr. Weir, who said: "Mr. Fache stated at the New Zealand Union last night that I said .that there were mon in Canterbury rampant for professionalism. What I said was that Mr. Donovan who returned from south told me that he met two gentlemen connected with the Canterbury Union who were in favour of paying players out-of-pocket expenses, and that ho was surprised to find it so." Mr. Howe: Did you make that statement confidentially? Mr. Weir: Yes, and I tried to keep that trust. Members: Hear, bear. Mr. Weir: Mr. Fache said also that I made a. threat to the New Zealand TTnfon. I did nothing of the -kind. When you talk with men you have know:; for years and tell them what is likely to ensue if certain thing occur. that is not a 'threat.

Mr. Weir mentioned that it had been said that the members of the ■Wellington team who visited Auckland •did r.nt at. any time decide to play the amended game. That statement was quite incorrect. Mr. Griffiths had reported that the players said they favoured a trial of the amended came, and besides that, in the dressing room at Athletic Park 011 Saturday he (Mr. We'r) had asked the players if they wished to play the amended came, and they said yes. At half-time lie told them that there might he trouble with tho' parent bodv, and askeil them if tlie.v would stand by the Wellington Union if it decided to take a stand. W'th two exceptions, the players nil

said that they would. On both these occasions he had been accompanied by other members of the union..

Mr. Griffiths said that this matter was discussed at length by the Wellington players coming down 'in the train from Auckland, and the players were in favour of thft. IJp to as late as last Saturday the members of the Wellington Union thought it was the players' cause they were fighting. Evidently there was soma back-hand work they were not aware of. OFFICIAL UNION STATEMENT. NO QUESTION OF TURNING LEAGUE. After the meoting the union considered the question of making a statement, and the following was issued by tho aecrotary"ln order to olear up one or two important matters in connection with the controversy on tho Auckland-Wellington match, I am authorised and directed to mako the following statement "(1) There was 110 question of going over to the League or adopting its constitution—tho object was rather the reverse, as the match at Auckland on August 17 was played under amended rules to nssist the Auckland Rugby Union to fight the leaguo. The publio had .shown a tendency for a different class of football, and were being lost to llugbv until certain amendments wero adopted which improved the' game under the Rugby code, and brought tliQ public back lo Auckland llugby Union matches. ,7 (2) These amended rules have been played in Auckland club contests for two seasons, and four inter-union Auckland-Wellington matches have been played in 1917-18 under the same rules without exception being taken by the N.Z.R.F.U. , , x "(3) The amendment to the minutes read at Tuesday's meeting > of the W.B.F.U. was made to show that the motion' to plav the match under Auckland rules (before making application 011 \upust 28 for permission to play anfende'd rules in Wellington), was rescinded At Wednesday evening 1 s meeting of the N.Z.R.F.U. it was stated the minutes were amended to show that the said motion was not rescindfld The Wellington Union was severely criticised erroneously as the result. ' "Ml The statement _ that tho W.B.F.U- had requested its coach (Mr. E IVry) not to attend the gymnasium Vain is absolutely contrary to fact. The matter was never discussed by the union. ' "(/i) The agreement with Auckland was to the effect that tho return match at Wellington should he played under the. existing N.Z.K.F.U. rules, but by the lrianimous request of the "veiitoen nlnvurs who took part in tile Auckland tour, it was decided to play under tho amended rules instead. T bo players who took part in tho Canterbury match last Saturday also unanimously stated their willingness to play under tho amended rules, evon : f it meant a breach with the N.Z.R.I'.U. "(6) The list of players published 011 Wednesday's.evening was handed in by an unauthorised person, and tho chair-

man, secretary, or selectors of thtf W.R.F.U. were not, and have not, been notified of the eleven players' unwillingness to play under amended rule*. "(7) With reference to the conference between the N.Z. and Wellington Unions on Monday, August 26, the N.Z. Union took 110 exception previous to this when advised the delegation from the Wellington Union would consist of three members only. Hellington Union was nob notified until inday afternoon, August 23. In any case, the conference would have been ui - wieldy had the ten members ot Wellington executive attended, which, ho ever, they were quite unable to do. "(8) To show that the Refusal of the N.Z. Union to graiit permission to pia> under amended rules was mireasona > tho full text of application for sucn permission is published herewith. "(Signed) T. H. JONES, "Secretary, j "Wellington Kugby Football Union.