Bugbear of Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 7

Bugbear of Rugby

Un wie Idy Pros ram me of Represe/itative Matches

N.Z.R.U. SEEKS REMEDY

Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON. Thursda

Represen tativ years have become something of a bugbear to the different Rugby Unions of the Dominion, and for some time the New Zealand Union has been considerin jj how best the trouble could be overcome. With the great growth of

the game of recent years has come an added growth of representative obligations, often very inconvenient, particularly to those centres where a large number of clubs makes local championship competitions a long-drawn-out affair.

The N.Z.R.U. is now proposing to classify all the unions into A and B grades, each A grade union being -equired to play two matches with a B grade union each season, other matches being largely at the discretion of the unions concerned.

To put the matter on a better basis th m has hitherto been the case, the central authority is asking its affiliated unions to provide the following information:— (a) Whether it has any regular fixtures with other unions, either for annual or home-and-home matches, and if so, what are the approximate dates of same; (b) what is its approximate pledged programme for the next four seasons and what matches is it prepared to undertake definitely in each season, together with the most suitable month for representative fixtures; (c) in the case of B unions they are to be asked which A unions they would prefer visits from during the next four years; (d) whether there are any local fixtures such as races( shows, etc., during the months of July, August and September with which the respective unions do not desire to clash during the period stated.

[f this information can be collected promptly, it is hoped that a full list of fixtures for each of the four coming seasons can be submitted year by year to each of the affiliated uniohs prior to the annual general meeting of the N.Z.R.U.,. which is usually held in May of each year. In the past it has been le t to delegates at this meeting to arrange the representative dates, but this has not been altogether satisfactory, hence the proposed change.