Rugby disgust

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 688, 27 May 1997, Page 4

Rugby disgust

• I wish to express my absolute disgust at the format that we as a senior team are being forced to play in for the next three months. If the wish is to reduce the numbers of players in the Wanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU), this format with only 10 senior teams, is guaranteed to do just that. As a newly formed club we started the year full of optimism and confidence with regard to our opportunities. We worked very hard getting players, sponsors and supporters. When Counties were forced to withdraw their team, and

when we were faced with fi ve games in three weeks, we did not falter. We also overcame hlaving no referee turn up for a home fixture, and playing a game under atrocious lighting in Wanganui still did not faze our team. We managed to continue to field a competitive team, even with an horrendous injury toll from our near-impossible itinerary. It was therefore amazing to us, that at meetings for fixtures, that five other clubs with senior teams, with the backing of the chairman of WRFU, voted to relegated four clubs with senior teams, to play a competition for the next three months by themselves. Whilst the four teams are competitive, we are soon going to be sick of playing each other every three weeks. Our supporters and sponsors will no doubt also tire of seeing the same players. All we asked for was the opportunity to play senior rugby in a competitive and meaningful competition with other senior teams. This format does not provide for this! That five clubs and the WRFU decided that this could not be done is a shocking outcome. I applaud our senior players for once again saying that they will continue to play on in this competition in spite of the lack of opportunity to play more senior teams. But for how long can their generous nature be put upon by the WRFU? They can only take so much, and I would suggest that this is the last straw. In their own interest, the Ruapehu Club has no choice but to look seriously at all of its options for next year. It would be sad to see the new Ruapehu Club decimated through no fault of its own, and we will do what

we have to be sure of its survival.

B

Journeaux,

president Ruapehu Rugby Club