Rumpus over Rugby

Despite the cancellation of the N.Z.U. Rugby tour of Australia, the controversy on the composition of University Rugby teams is still point; on. The O.U. Rugby Club takes the view that only current students should play in University teams and they did not nominate any players for this year's South Island Universities and New Zealand University teams. O.U. players who were in these teams were selected without having been nominated by their club. The Otago University Football Club are supported in their stand by the Otago University Students' Association and it is believed that the agricultural colleges have a similar view.

The question as to who should and who should not play for a university sports club is a matter for the various clubs to decide for themselves. It brings little credit to a university if a number of the players of a university club are non-students, past or present. In our view those who have never been bona fide students should not be allowed to play for a university club. This might well weaken some university clubs but at least they would be being honest with themselves and with the public.

In overseas countries it is the custom for a university sports side to consist only of current students and we feel that this practice should be adopted by N.Z.U. teams meeting overseas university teams in all sports. It would be most unfair to our opponents to do otherwise.

There remains, then, to consider the composition of N.Z.U. sides to meet provincial teams. In all sports other than Rugby, these games are played at the conclusion of tournament and the N.Z.U. representatives are therefore all current students. We see no reason why Rugby should be made an exception of in this respect.

—Sports Editor.