ROUGH RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 207, 17 September 1937, Page 13

ROUGH RUGBY

Slashing Attack on Foul Play "Players are paying too muc'h attention to the Jetter cf the law and too little to the spirit." So said MajorGcneral B. A. Hill, the newly elccted president of tho English Eugby Union, during the course of a slashing attack on foul play at the Eugby Union 's annual general meetiug. "There are too many qucstionablo tricks in the gaiae," said the General. He gavo as an instanco the action of ono player last scason. "The player," ne said, "when taking a penalty kiek, signalled to the touch-judges that he was going to take a kick at goal. The touch-judges accordingly went behind the goal, but tho player took a short punt ahead and iollowed it up. That is against the spirit of the game and is punishablo under Law 34. "What is the reason for this unfair play?" asked tho new president. "The expenses of clubs aro now becoming more and more large, and there is a danger that tho taking of good gates will become the dominating aim. "If you have that, there is tho greater danger of tho encouragement of the type of player who has no conscience and oue who will do anything ?is long as the referee will allow him to do it." Eeferees, he said, have been blamed for this state of aflfairs. The International Board, indeed, had actually issued a statement about it. Many people had misinterpreted the meaning of that statement. The board did not fiud fault with the referees in charge of matches this year or even last year. They meant that referees in general were not doing their1 duty and sending offi players when they infringed Law 34 (B). "We expect the 'clubs to put their houscs in order," he said. "Do not play men who infringe the rules. " The proposai of Bristol and Batb, "Lhat the practico ot' allowing facilitics i'or ihe broadcasting of inlcrnational games or any otjier game under the eoutrol of tho Eugby Union be discontinued" was ruled out of order, because aeeording to present rules the Eugby Union committee alone has the power to decide whether or not matehes should be broadcast, To obtain the feelings of the clubs on the matter the president allowed the resolution to be put forward by Sam Tucker (Bristol), and after the Surrey and Middlesex Unions had opposed it a vote was taken which resulted in an overwhelming majority against Bristol 's resolution.