Sir, – Many of us of the older generation can remember a time when we used to enjoy watching rugby matches where each team played a running and passing game with the intention of scoring tries.
In today’s rugby, it is the performance of the referee who dominates and ultimately decides the result of the game, applying rules so complicated and so technical that they require a television camera to judge and which are far beyond the ability of most spectators to evaluate and understand. Furthermore, each referee seems to apply different interpretations of the rules.
The game is now reduced to a vicious and brutal physical attritional conflict, with the end result depending on the man with the whistle. It is no longer an enjoyable and sporting contest, particularly for those of us who can remember the glorious games of the past. – Yours, etc,
GRAEME GUTHRIE,
Kilmeena,
Westport,
Co Mayo.