Empty Chaucer quote rubbished game played on grass (7)
I believe the answer is:
croquet
'game played on grass' is the definition.
'empty chaucer quote rubbished' is the wordplay.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'rubbished' is an anagram indicator.
'chaucer' with its middle taken out is 'cr'.
'quote' anagrammed gives 'oquet'.
'cr'+'oquet'='CROQUET'
(Other definitions for croquet that I've seen before include "Mallet, hoops, game" , "Game played with mallets (or flamingoes according to Lewis Carroll)" , "... or possibly at this ball game" , "Lawn game played with hoops and mallets" , "genteel sport" .)