RUGBY FOR GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 246, 12 July 1921, Page 6

RUGBY FOR GIRLS

WELLINGTON CLUB TO GO AHEAD FIRST PRACTICE ARRANGED There is no obstacle big enough to stop the members of the Wellington Ladies’ Rugby Football Club from having a shot at playing the national game. At least, that is the impression given by the second meeting of intending players held last evening, and from the girls’ point of view it was a successful meeting. No notice was taken of any advice or warnings published in the Press beyond a suggestion that the rules might be modified to suit the requirements of the weaker sex. "Except scrumming, we could play Rugby with the greatest of case,” confidently asserted one of the members. The larger girls would not hear of the omission. "Scrums," thev said, "why, that’s all the fun. That’s what we want.” Tin smaller players looked dubious, but said nothing. They were sizing up the forwards. There was a good deal of discussion as to facilities for practice before the Poneke Club’s offer of the gymnasium on a Sunday morning was received. Some there were who wished to hold an evening practice on one of the parks. "We don’t need the moonlight, as long as we can keep our positions,” they said. "And wo don’t want anyone there to see us at first. . . . We aren’t going to take too many chances.” The chairwoman (Miss Dawson) asked her sister footballers whether they were etill decided to wear shorts and jerseys. "You bet we are," came the chorus. "Wo don’t want any skirts or bloomers, 4 windy day, and they’re more trouble than the*’re worth."

Then there was some opposition. The captain of the Association ladies’ team (Miss Sawkins) and her deputy, Miss Landymore, were present with an eye to securing more recruits to the roundball game. Miss Dingwell, one of the initial committee-women, rose. "I don’t think we could play Rugby,” ehe said. "Scrums and the possibilities of being knocked out would be disastrous to us.” The club captain was ready. "As I’ve eaid, we could leave out the scrums. We -ould make rules to suit ourselves . . . more like Soccer. We could make pass-ing-over ono of our rules to obviate too much scrumming." "It would be easy to break your shoulder,” retorted Mi«a Dingwell. She added that people were beginning to think the project ridiculous. A voice: They think everything new ridiculous.

Continuing, the dissentient said _it was no use, in . her opinion, making the game too hard. For instance, who could imagine a girl being collared low? It might ruin her for life. And what chance would a little girl have if a bigger ono rushed her? She advocated a softer game, or else Association. "We can play proper Rugby,” said the chairwoman.

"Well." answered Miss Dingwell. "we •won’t find anyone to play against in Wellington."

A voice: We could have a match with Christchurch next year. “Next year? We might all bo married next year. I, for one, don’t intend to play Rugby,” was the rejoinder. "Nor I," from two other girls. The meeting voted on whether to play Rugby or not, and the ones who wanted to play won. The three dissentients, Misses Dingwell, Donovan, and Dorrien, immediately resigned from the executive, and their places were filled by Misses Park. Bird, and Norris.

Mr. Aamodt, of the Poneke Club, told the meeting that girls could play Rugby if they played it properly. His club, for one. would help them. "Lord help your husband.” he added. "Heaven help the married man!"

After Mr. Telfer had expressed tho opinion that Rugby was the national .game of the Dominion, nnd therefore would be better than Soccer for girls to take up. the meeting adjourned. Tho first practice will be held in the Poneke gymnasium on Sunday morning next. MEDICAL OPINIONS STRONGLY AGAINST GIRLS PLAYING RUGBY'. The question whether Rugby football is a suitable or desirable game for girls to participate in, prompted by the formation of a girls’ Rugby team in Wellington and by a suggestion for the formation of a team in Christchurch, was asked of several Christchurch medical men by a "Star” reporter. In every case the answer was "No.” Among medical men there is a strong opinion that if girls take up Rugby football, even moderately, it will prove prejudicial to their future health. Several of the doctors. while being strongly opposed to the girls playing Rugby, view "Soccer” with less disfavour, although they all stated that they could not honestly recommend any girl to take up even tho latter game.

When the question was put to Dr. W. H. Simpson, he answered with <in emphatic "No.” ."Football for girls,” he added, "would prove deleterious from both the physical and temperamental standpoint. Women were not intended to take part in such a rough, if manly, game ns football; they are not built for it. and only a certain typo are likely to be attracted by the idea. Funning is good for women, and so is plenty oi healthy outdoor exercise, but I must draw the line at football. The scrum work and the tackling alone are too dangerous for women, nnd, however much they attempt to modify the game, there will always remain a great deal of risk.” Dr. Pimnson explained that the element of risk was caused bv the liability of women to falls. Their bones were softer than men's bones, they were fatter ami loss muscular, and not as stable on their feet as men, thus rendering them very susceptible to risk. If a. man suffered iniury on the football field he recovered fairly quickly, but this would not be so with women. The injuries they might get would in many cases have a mo"t harmful effect, not only nt the time, but in later years. It was against the interest’s of tiieir health' for women to indulge in such a dangerous recreation. A somewhat similar opinion was expressed by Dr. Whetter, who characterised an ridiculous any suggestion that girls should play Rugby football. "I certainly cannot countenance football os o game" for girls under any conditions,” m.ldrd Dr. Whetter. “They are simply not built for playing football. Let them play games, where there is no tackling or scrum work, and no danger of heavy falls. But the very last gnmo they should play is "Rugby football.” "There are a lot of daring girls who probably look upon Rugby football as a sort of adventure, and that probably accounts for their desire, to fake if up in Christchurch.” Dr. Orchard said he did not have anv very strong objections to Soccer because with it there, was not the same risk of bodily injury, but at the same time he did not like (he idea of girls nlaving football. Anatomically they would be taking a risk which was not justified, and would be liable to feel the bed effects in later' years. Girls had smaller Ixme.s and were more fragile. Thus they ran the risk of broken bones, sprained ankle”, and, more serious still the danger of internal injury. Medical opinion must be all against the participation of girls in Rugby football Another doctor said that, while there wae no doubt that girls were much improved by outdoor exorcise, the ride of injury with Rugby was too great for girls to fake it up. Rugby football for girls was agofnst their best interests, and while there were so many other games open for girls to take up there was no need for them to participate in nny game which might bring about troubles from which they would suffer in later years. He certainly would not advise any girl to play Rugby.