"DAMNABLE THING"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 265, 2 July 1932, Page 8

"DAMNABLE THING"

N.Z. RUGBY UNION'S ACTION gjj CRITICISED BY NELSON I UNION. | REPLACING PLAYERS. NELSON, June 28. The action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in connection with the \ rules regarding the replacement of injured players and the leaving of the field at half-time was strongly criticised by the Nelson Rugby Union last evening, when it was deeided that, in view of the expression on | these matters by the delegates at the | annual meeting of the New Zealand | Union, at which the delegates were 1 in favour of replacements, the matter he deferred till the next annual | meeting, or be discussed at any spec- j ial meeting which may be called, and \ in the meantime replacements be per- j mitted. Members appeared unaini- j mous in their disapproval of the New Zealand Management Committee's s action in cabling the English Union j that this rule will be adheared to, but . when another motion was moved that J Nelson carry on with replacements j as at present, pending a further com- j munication, five memhers opposed such action. However, the motion \ was carried. When the New Zealand Union's let- i ter, stating it had no alternative but 1 J to request a strict complianee with these two rules, was read, it was pointed out that the annual meeting of the delegates deeided that injured players could be replaced, if both captains agreed, and that the teams must not leave the field at half-time without the permission of the referee. Patience Straineid. The president (Mr. E. R. Blewett) said that it looked as if there was no alternative. The rules seemed to he straining the patience of the players j| and football followers generally. No | one wished to see a game with five | men playing perhaps thirteen. Such a | situation would rob a team of the i merit of winning. He liked the Aus- | tralian suggestion of replacements up 1 to half-time, and maintained that the | people wished to see a sporting game | with equal sides. Mr. Hogg : "It seems that they have set out on a policy of irritation." ^ The ehairman : "Instead of conciliation." Mr. Hogg: "Absolutely." Mr. H. Richardson maintained that the no replacemept rule tended to encourage rough play, and he considered that the New Zealand management eommittee had been hasty in its action, as it had not asked the opinion of the unions on such a matter. | Mr. Edwards: "If there was a meeting of union delegates to-morrow, they would turn it down flat." Mr. H.'V. Searle considered that, in view of the decision of the full I meeting of delegates, it was a big thing for the eommittee to ehange that decision. "Nigger in Woodpile." A voice : "I think your friend S.S.D. is the nigger in the woodpile. He's looking for a trip to England in Mr. Edwards: "You'll find that there will be a squeal from one end of New Zealand to the other." Mr. J. Newman moved that the New Zealand Union's letter be forwarded to the Referees' Association for the rules to be carried out. An amendment was moved by Mr. Searle that Nelson play the rules under discussion vas at present, pending a further reply from the New Zealand Union, except that the local union will fall in wth Malborough's wishes in the representative fixtuie next Saturday. Mr. H. Sileock: "You're puttmg yourselves in a false position. Oui interpreting body is the New Zealand Rugby Union, and we must carry out those rules. No one is against those two rules more than me. In fact the no replacement one is a damnable thing, but in the circumstances we have no option but to carry them out. It would serve us rig'ht if the New Zealand Union turned round and suspended us." Mr. Searle's amendment was put to the meeting and carried, Mossrs. Sileock, Newman, Brough, Williams, and Eyre having their votes reeorded against it.