“PLAYING DEAD”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 201, 20 May 1921, Page 4

“PLAYING DEAD”

CASE OF EXPELLED RUGBY PLAYER

N.Z. UNION CHAIRMAN WANTS CASE RECONSIDERED

There was a brisk interlude at last night’s meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, following a communication from the Otago Union, referring to the expulsion of a Dunedin player, who had been found guilty of accepting money to "play dead.” The New Zealand Union had decided to communicate with the English Union on the matter, and in this connection the Otago body expressed its opinion that as several players had been reinstated the case in question should be reopened and dealt with by the New Zealand body. The matter was brought up last evening by the chairman (Mr. G. W. Slade), who gave as notice of motion, by permission of the executive, that the case be reopened, as the N.Z.R.U. has full power to deal with the matter. The chairman said that the player in question was disqualified while a member of a southern clu'b in 1915. Tho chairman contended that although the N.Z.R.U. was affiliated to the English Union, the New Zealand Union’s Management Committee 'had power to deal finally with the matter, although on the matter of rules the English Union bad to be communicated with. The chairman said the disqualified player did not receive money for playing football, but for "not play, ing football." The union had readmitted last year a man who had been disqualified for life, said Mr. Slade. “’I he only thing other than the rules of the game about which we can appeal to the English Union," said the chairman, "are the rules of professionalism." At this stage the meeting was asked by Mr. Deans to go into committee, but the motion was lost. Mr. Little considered that the only powers of reinstatement possessed by the union were in respect r.f players who had been ordered off the field, guilty of misconduct. There was heated discussion as to the interpretation of the powers given the New Zealand Union by the controlling b °"England has given us practically the same powers as they have themselves, remarked Mr. G. Howe. Mr 55 r ylie classed the offence m question as one of the most serious against the rules of Rugby-to "play dead” for mone*. "The ethics of the game are sport,” said Mr. Wylie, "and if a player ‘goes dead’ for money he snould lie dealt with with (he utmost rigour of the code. ... I would not support the reopening of this matter, and also I don’t think we have the power.’’ Mr. Wylie referred to an Auckland case in which a player was suspended for a. period of ten years, and after eight years the suspension was remitted. “That was a different case, said the speaker. “The man in question was suspended not expelled, and riio years were remitted. . . • Ihe A l ’ land Rugby Union was satisfied that the player’s part in the affair was a minor one. That is why it recommended su. pension and not expulsion. P xf r Deans then moved “That the resolution passed at the last meeting concerning the Dunedin player 'be rescinded and the case reopened for discussion. That would give Mr.' Slade a chance to make his case clear,” said the mover. _ Mr. 55'ylie: Uan correspondence be Obtained from Otago on the subject The final decision of the meeting was that the matter be adjourned pending the receipt of further information.