SUPPORT FOR REFEREES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 8

SUPPORT FOR REFEREES

ORDERING-OFF INCIDENT MR DEAN’S CRITICISM The Otago Rugby Football Union is supporting the protest of the Otago Rugby Referees’ Association against the criticism levelled by the. chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, Mr S. S. Dean, at Mr J. Frood, referee of the North-South Island match at Invercargill on October 4, for the latter’s action in ordering off two All Black players, J. G. Simpson (North) and L. Connolly (South). In a letter asking the Otago union to support its protest, the Referees’ Association took very strong exception to Mr Dean making what it described as “an ill-considered and premature statement,” particularly prior to receiving a report from the players concerned. The association added that the referee would have failed in his duty had he not acted according to the rules, and the executive was perturbed that any official should have suffered from adverse publicity. Such criticism, it pointed out, did not promote confidence amongst referees and was no encouragement for retiring players to join up with referees’ associations. “It is felt that the Otago Rugby Football Union should support my executive.” the association stated, “ and ask Mr Dean to retract his statement and apologise to the referee concerned.” Union’s Statement In a statement issued on behalf of the Otago union by the president, Mr R. W. S. Botting, yesterday, the union expressed its support of the Referees Association in the matter, and took exception to Mr Dean’s statement. It was obvious to any careful observer of the North-South match that there had been trouble between Simpson and Connolly earlier in the game, the statement continued. “The scrum immediately before the cne when the incident occurred was a hectic one, and it was only by acting promptly and ‘ drastically that the referee put an end to the trouble, the statement proceeded. If .the players had taken the caution given by the referee and behaved themselves subsequently, nothing more would probably have been heard of it. International players, or any players for that matter, should be able to conduct themselves on the field in a more seemly manner than Connolly and Simpson did in Invercargill on October 4. Had two junior players been concerned, the referee would probably have been commended for his prompt action. , “International players are governed by the same laws as other Rugby players and are therefore subject to the same penalties. That international players should be able to set an example on the field has apparently been completely lost sight of.. The referee is. in any case, the sole judge of fact, arid the rule says clearly that if the referee’s caution is not heeded, he must order off the offending player or players. In view of this it seems unfortunate that an official of the New Zealand Rugby Union should see fit to criticise publicly the action of the referee in the North-South Island match, as has been done.” Resolution Adopted The Otago union has resolved to send a letter to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, supporting the protest of the Otago Referees’ Association and taking exception to Mr Dean’s criticism of Mr Frood, as published in the press. _ . “ It seems unfortunate that an official of the New Zealand Rugby Union should see fit to criticise a referee publicly as he has just done,” the resolution states. “ Such criticism is not calculated to inspire confidence, either in the governing body or the Referees’ Association, and we feel that greater loyalty should have been shown by the chairman 1 of the Management Committee to-the referee in control of the match in question.”