OUR RUGBY SETBACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 6

OUR RUGBY SETBACK

UNION PRESIDENT URGES REVIVAL RETURN TO INTERNATIONAL RULES START WITH PRIMARY SCHOOLS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In the course of his presidential address to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr R. T. Meredith reviewed the conditions of the game in New Zealand as revealed in the light of the Sprinkboks’ tour. “The wonderful success of our visitors last year has at last made us realise that all is not well with our football, and for this reason, if no other, we are indebted to them,” he observed. “If we are again to take our place in the football world, then it behoves every player and administrator of the game to take to heart the lessons learned from the tour and to work for unanimity throughout New Zealand.”

Mr Meredith said that perhaps the main reason for the decline could be traced to departing from rules as laid down by the international Board. It apparently was thought that the game could be made more attractive, but the public were not attracted. He stressed that the attendances at the Springbok tour mtaches showed that the public appreciated Rugby under the international rules. To get back to that standard, he said, it was necessary to start with boys in the primary schools with coaching on right lines. If this were followed up in the secondary schools, boys when they came to play grade football should have a good knowledge of the game. The main weakness appeared to be with the forwards: “We have developed a nonpushing type,” said Mr Meredith, “those who want to get out in the open so as to catch the eye of the selectors. Until we get back to honest packing on the scientific system we cannot expect our game to improve,” The forwards, he continued, must learn to dribble, so as not to lose control. Line-out work must be developed and the necessity of solidity stressed alike in set scrums, line-outs and rucks. Forwards, like backs, must be chosen to fill places. The whole eight must not be calle'd upon to be flyaways. To assist in getting the game back to a proper standard, referees must help. Mr Meredith strongly criticised the refereeing at some matches last year, particularly regarding the way in which the ball was allowed to be put into, the scrum.