Rugby

     I knew some one would rise to my bait about rugby, and sure enough Max Hope raised his scholarly head and bit:
     Yes --- 'Le Rugby' can be a pretty rough game --- and all congrats. to our friends across the Tasman for winning the Cup.(We were up at 4.am to watch it all). [Well, I was us at 2:30 a.m. for a WAISer cause. RH]
     The design of the internal combustion engine was originally pretty simple --- but in course of time it has become a fairly complicated provider of energy. Rugby too was originally pretty simple --- just get over your opponent's line, and stop him from getting over yours. However, having grown from a game originally developed at a school in England, to an International trophy game recently played between some 20 countries, the present structure and rules of rugby I suggest, bear only passing resemblance to the original.
     The rules are complex, and capable of differing interpretations. Referees have to play an important part in the game, and even with the advent of T/V ('the third eye') it can be very difficult to determine exact actions--- particularly in scrums, rucks, and mauls. Additionally, definitions of 'penalties', and professional 'fouls', (and their payment!) complicate matters further. In the amateur days folk were generally happy to accept rulings 'by the ref.' But with professionalism and much money, as well as national pride, now involved, 'exactness' in the game is required from 'the supporters' or fans. But the structure of the game, and it's archaic rules tend to work against this requirement..
     Perhaps this is why the similar, but different games of rugby League, and rugby 'Rules' (both developed in Australia, I think?) came about. (The Tri-Nations Rugby League Cup is contended by England, Australia and NZ; in the past month NZ beat England, and last week Australia just beat NZ.) As the world grows smaller, I think rugby will either go through some fairly major rule/interpretational changes, or will fade/merge into League --- but, let me hasten to add --- not for some time yet!!.
     This morning the All Blacks arrived back in NZ, and were welcomed by the Prime Minister and several hundred 'fans'. With reference to their unexpected loss to France, probably Sir Wilson Whineray (head of the Carter-Holt industrial empire, and past All Black captain) passed the most pithy comment. He said: "It is no sin to have a problem; the sin is in not to re-group and address it"!
     Sport is many things, and I would not attempt here to fully answer your query. At the basic level it promotes (in varying degrees) physical fitness, control, the pursuit of excellence, team spirit and 'good sportsmanship'. At the international levels the opportunity is there for all these attributes to be widely manifested; and generally this is the case, but not always so. At least, the worst results are better than 'war'--- and in an imperfect world 'the fans' need an emotional outlet!


     My comment: Man is a nasty brute, so rugby may provide an alternative to war. Churchill said that jaw, jaw is better than war, war (and, I would add, than ruck, maul. "Ruck" , meaning "heap", is obsolete except in rugby, which could be renamed ruckby). The description demonstrates that fun and sportsmanship have been replaced by sordid, nasty, monetary calculations, and pride--one of the seven deadly sins. There is fun: a mob of Frenchmen were on the Champs Elysées waiting for their team, but when it arrived dejectedly, they decided that they would enjoy their champagne and have fun anyway. As for sports promoting health, playing them may, but watching them exercises, or rather wares out, only vocal chords. As for the crowd of supporters in Cardiff who had spent large sums on travel, accommodations and fun, the money would have been spent on local school, libraries and hospitals--or do I have my priorities wrong?
     I hasten to add that I admire New Zealand, rugby and all, and am sad that it is one of the few countries in the world I have not visited. I am impressed that New Zealand scholarship extends to ruckby.

Ronald Hilton - 11/9/99