THE RUGBY TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 18, 16 October 1918, Page 4

THE RUGBY TROUBLE

TEN PLAYERS SUSPENDED. The Wellington Rugby Union IfEt evening further prosecuted its inquiry into the alleged playing of amended rules in the r Auckland-Wellington match. The members of the Wellington team were to have attended to be examined; but only H.~E. Nicholls (the captain), F. Tilyard, and J. Troy appeared. • , Nicholls stated that he had not been a party to any arrangement. He bad been approached respecting a proposal' that- there should bo no charging of free kicks, and had replied that he would leave the matter to the forwards. Tilyard stated that Mr. Griffiths, a member of the Lugby Union Committee, .told the Wellington team that the two captains-had agreed'that kicks would not be charged. Troy said that he was not aware of any agreement by the skippera not_ to charge. He received no instructions whatever. He did not hear anyone address tho team and mention that tho captains had agreed that there t-hould be no charging. , ' . . Mr. Griffiths stated that in his hearing the two captains agreed to no charging. When he addressed the team prior to the match he mentioned that fact, to the players. Ho did not instruct the players not to charge; m fact, he pointed out to them that if . they did charge they could not be penalised. ' ■ , ■ Tho members of the union expressed disappointment at the fact that so few of the players had obeyed' the instruction to'attend, and it was resolved to suspend the following till they-appear: Valentine, Chrietophereon, A. Thomas, Aitken, Morris, Arthur Parker, Albert Parker, Eberhordt, Marks, and B. Thomas. , , The players who aro not suspended are: Porter, Nicholls, Tilyard, Tvoy (who attended), and Tancred (who is away). The union's last meeting of the year ,is to be held next Tuesday, and players who do not- attend then may remain under suspension till at least the beginning of next season. _' It was decided also to ask Mr. JiPerry, who had to do with the training of the team, to attend next Tuesday. >, .