ATTITUDE IN BRITAIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 43, 13 November 1937, Page 12

ATTITUDE IN BRITAIN

DUTY OF REFEREES

A timely efEort is being made to clean up Rugby football in which many objectionable practices have been condoned in recent years, says the Sporting Life, published in London. Following hot upon the warning to clubs and referees recently issued by the Rugby Union, qomes a stern reminder by the Internationai Rugby Board that such practices will not be tolerated in ehampionship matches between the four countries. All whp have at heart the good of a great game will welcpme the action pf the Internationai Bpard, who have addressed the following ietter to each referee on the panel pf referees selected to take charge of internationai matches. Inferior Type "I am instrueted by the Internationai Board to write to you on a matter of the highegt importafige to the game of Rugby football in ihe "four countries. "The board have observed that referees in internationai matches do npt administer the laws of the game as laid down by them, the result bging that many internationai matches produce an inferior type of football/ with persistent breaking of the laws, which is not in keeping " with the spirit and tradition of the game, "The board desire to impress upon the referees appointed by thg "respeqttv# unions to thg panel pf mternational referges the neeessity for makihg full use of the powers cpntained in' the laws for the inunediate suppression of the repeated infringements by players who wilfully risk a penalty kick to gain an unfair advajxtage. Wilful Law-breakers "Thg board point out that it is the duty of the referee to order off a player who is persistently infringing the laws. '■'There is a disinclination on the part of referees in internationai matches to enforce the extreme penalty for unfair play. "As a resuit of this, players are left with the impression that, no matter how gujlty they are of wilful lawbreaking and misconduct, the extreme penalty will not be inflicted, "The failure ,o£ referees in internationai matches to inflict appropriate penaltie's has had a detrimental efiect pn less experienced rgfep qes, pji pjgtyr ®Iul? ifid ea «sbael-