AN APPEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1930, Page 6

AN APPEAL

TO N.Z. ItUGBY UNION. THE CASE FOR EXCELSIOR CLUB. The following, statement waT? sent forward by the Excelsior Football Club in connection with its appeal against tne West Coast Rugby Lin,on. w, has been referred by the New Zealand Rugby Union to a sub-committee for investigation : ‘‘jii appealing against the action of the A\ cst Coast Rugby Union in awarding the game. Excelsior v. Brunner, to Brunner, after the Excelsiors had won the game by 30 points to 6, on the grounds that- the Excelsior team had played two men that they were not entitled to play under a rule' made by the W est Coast Rugby Union. 1 would, on behalf ol my Club, submit the following facts.

“'lhe rule in question was made by the West Coast Rugby Union in 1924. At that time, a Senior as well as a Junior Competition, was, and had been lor many years past, played under the West Coast Rugby t niori in the northern district. A Senior as well as a Junior Competition was also played under the Sub-Union.... in the Southern district, and .the rule,- ieferrcd to,, making a. boundary betweenthe two divisions, and prohibiting players from playing lor Clues outside their division, was el tec five and quite in order. ■ : ■

“In 192.,) Rugby suffered a severe set back in the'-Grey district at the hands of League, and a deputation from the Union waited on the SubUnion and pointed out that it was impossible for them to carry on their Senior Competition, and that it meant that unless Cio two divisions combined and allowed one Competition to be held under the auspices of the West Coast Rugby Union, that Rugby would go to the wall in' the Northern Division. The Sub-Union readily compiled with the wishes of the Union and decided to forego their Senior Competition and allow the Union to run oik Senior Competition between all- Clubs in the two'divisions. League had not affeited the Southern Division and Rugby was nourishing.

“My Cluli contends, that when the ..two divisions combined, so far as the Senior Competition Was concerned-ithe boundary rules automatically becanip ineffective so far as senior players were concerned, iand that such was the case is emphasised by the fact tlia- for five years, with the full knowledge of the Union, numerous players have crossed the old boundary to play in the Senior Competition,, and their doing so" has never been questioned. Suddenly, without any notice or warning to either tne Clubs concerned or to the Subunion, the Union saw fit to penalise the winning team—as referred to' at" the commencement of this letter—because- two ; plqyorV ;had changed their place of residence' and were living' north of the “1924' boundary”—made,' as I said before, when the Senior Competitions were separate. “My Club contends, Sir and Gentlemen, that- the- action of the West Coast Rugby Union was unjust and unreasonable. I would point out that the defeated Club in the game entered no protest, and the members of the SubUnion are, unanimous a,s to the injustice and amazing attitude of the West Coast, Rugby- Union.. 1 :-That when the Senior Competition’ was merged into one under the. West Coast Rugby. Un-

“That when the Senior Competition was merged into one under the. West Coast Rugby Union, that boundary became ineffective a.s the Ompetition covered the whole of the territory. There is a decided feeling that it is an injustice that players should be asked to play for any particular club in this Competition. The players affected were still playing in the same competition in the same territory as they are in residence, and they are toldthey must play for another Club. Those boundaries were fixed “when. the Senior were separate -ones’ It was not fair or 'just to penalise these players as they proposed: ! Trusting that the' facts contained herein will be given their due consideration.' I have every confidence that your Union will see that justice is done to my Club.

P.S On receipt of our protest, the West Coast Rugby Union carried a resolution permitting these players to continue playing for their Club, pending the decision of your Union.