Rugby for All
SIR,—I am glad to be able to agree with something in Mr. Mallalieu's article, entitled Rugby for All, namely that there should be a Rugby Union "rule which forbids a player to kick full pitch into Touch "; I may add that many years ago I played in a match in which a variant of this was authorised 'as an experiment—a successful one we thought. I also agree that there should be no waiting for a "set scrum," and perhaps Mr. Mallalieu would agree with me that the " advantage " rule should be applied to the "line-out."
But for the rest—there was no bitterness though great regret, abbut the splitting away of what is now the Rugby League. Some thought no harm would come of paying out-of-pocket expenses, while others, who have been proved right, feared that it would end in:— (a) outfight professionalism, (b) virtual elimination of the amateur in first-class games, (c) domination by the Gate, (d) undue emphasis on "a win" over "the game," etc.
While I hold no brief for the refusal to lend a ground for practice to a visiting Rugby League team, since I don't know enough about the circumstances, my own experience tells me that the absolute rules on professionalism were necessary to cope with the veiled sort.
Mr. Mallalieu seemingly approves the ' inhibited " expression of a crowd's views to the referee, and rather marvels because he "heard several times Huddersfield supporters shout: 'Well played Batley '." Unless he is pulling your readers' lees, .1 fear it is easier to under- stand why Mr. Mallalieu left rugger for soccer than that he was such a good performer in the former. Finally our, plaTers do of course come from all classes, ana, as to the small-crowds at ordinary Rugby Union club matches, perhaps that indicates that those who can no longer play normally prefer, wisely, some other activity to watching.— Yours faithfully, ERNEST. A. BARRETT.
Two Stacks, Burney Road, Westhumble, Dorking, SurreY.
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