CORRESPONDENCE

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 229, 28 September 1926, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

R UGBY "COM MKRC1ALISED."

£To The Editor.]

Sir, — 1 pen flies© lines in a- medley of thoughts, as toi which one l should ch-oose to attack the control ling body of Rugby footba-11 in A'la rlborough. Their dictation definitel}T calls for c-ondem nation. Firstly, my casual attention was attracted by the request of ii Blenheim team for pe-i1-mission-to play a match with a, team in our sister province, Nelson. They were denied this privilege. Seeondly, a "house and house" match was played in this town on Saturday between a local Public Service team and a team from the Nelson Post Office staff. One shilling admission was eharged. I paid my bob, naturally thinking flie gate receipts were to defray the expenses of the vi-sit-ing teanr ; but to my disgust, and the disgust of oth-ers, I find this charge was levied by the Alarlborough Rugby Union. What. an im'position ! What an example of sportsmanship ! By charging admission the Marlborough Rugby Union employed these men to play Rugby footbali for a, pecuniary gaiin. Would this Union pay medical and hospital expenses ; or supplement wages lost, in the event of any man so' emplo-yed being injured?

Rugby by "house and house" players is played for Rugby 's sake, and if a casual or non-attender is ever drawn to witness a game of Rugby it is by these games. When a charge is made, tlie public righteously expeet to see an exhibition of foiotball liy two trained teams. Do you go to the pictures to see actors frolicking, or in real screen production? This game on Saturday was oi' such a oommereial *~a J no that even the attendance of Rugby Union pfficia-ls was not hbticeable. For shield corn-pctiti-ons we hear a great uproar abo-ut our bo.ys meeting a. fort-night befo-rehand for th© purpose of training. No ! That would be encouraging prot es-si-on a 1 i sm . Wha-t diffevence is there between professiona-lism and couunei cialism ? None, except that in the latter the promoter reaps the bencfit, t h-e player the glory. if professicnalisrn or commereiklism is to be introduced into Rugby footbali, th-en the true amateur sport of tlie game is killed. I am an old Rugbv player. and my experienoe in other proviuces is that these "house and house" matches are encouraged and fostered as an ineentive to Rugbv footbali. W© want tlie good old game encouraged and fostered, beoause in the League- game we have a strong opponent. Sir, with very sliglit. digressio-n I feel 1 could great;ly simplify this subjeet, but I have 110 dasire to further occupy your jvaluablo oolumns with wh'ims* ot Rugby footbali My main object is to ex-qnei-ate the two teams from the impositioii of a charge being made to see a humorous exhibition ,o-f Rugby, by sports who play the game for Rugby 's sake.

"FAIR, SPORT."