Dunedin club rugby has been kicked in the shins by the decision to play trophy games on two Thursday afternoons.
The Metropolitan Rugby Council has ignored traditions and history which are important to Otago rugby by assigning important trophy games to afternoons on the days before Easter and Anzac Day.
The VG Cavanagh Memorial Trophy is played between University A and Southern to honour the deeds of the ''Twa Vics'' who laid the foundations for the success of Otago rugby.
The annual game was initiated by Dunedin dentist Ernie Martin, who played for University A when it was coached by Old Vic in the 1930s.
His son, Young Vic, made a huge impact as coach with the Southern club and the great Otago Ranfurly Shield team from 1947 to 1950. He made a great impact on the world game.
The annual match has been played since the late 1950s.
The Scoles Memorial is played between Harbour and Zingari and honours the memory of Port Chalmers halfback Bandy Scoles, who was killed when he fell under a train at Port Chalmers in the early 1950s.
These two games have been held annually for more than 50 years and are part of the fabric of Dunedin club rugby.
The four clubs recognise the tradition and make the day important for old members and supporters of the clubs.
The normal practice is to have an old-timers and life members luncheon at one of the clubs, watch the game, and then return to the clubrooms for a few more beers afterwards.
Older members and fans of the club look forward to this day when they can talk about their past deeds and pay a tribute to former icons of the clubs.
This chance has been ripped away by the decision to play these important trophy games on the day before Good Friday.
It used to be the practice to play these games in the second round of the club competition.
It is not too late.
This could still be done by shifting the trophy games to the second round.
The third important trophy game being played on Easter Thursday is between Dunedin and Alhambra-Union for the Centennial Trophy.
On the Thursday afternoon before Anzac Day, the Larry Salmon Trophy game - dubbed the ''Battle of the Beach'' - is being played between Dunedin and Pirates.
It is another important day for both clubs that has been downgraded and should also be shifted to the second round of the competition.
The traditions of Dunedin club rugby must be preserved. It can be done by the simple action of shifting these trophy games to the second round.
