ENGLISH RUGBY HAS UNTRIED MATERIAL

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1946, Page 6

ENGLISH RUGBY HAS UNTRIED MATERIAL

( SugcIRiI Correspondeixt.)

BIG TASK FOR SELECTORS

LONDON, Sept. 5. The English Rugby season which commences on Septenxber 7 will see a number of new clubs in the field and considerable revival of interest and support after the lean years during the war. Wiltshire, Oxford shire and Berkslxire who .previously had not participated in- the Counties' championship, have already made formal application t'o enter teams and the historic Blackheath Club, nxoribund for some time, is being revived. The English Eugby Union has also decided 011 the resuinption of international matclies after . an interval of eiglxt years. Interest is added to this by the aniiouneement that France will this year select an international side after a lapse of 16 years, and that an Aiistralian teaiii will tour Britain next season; The prewar system of awarding interxxational caps is to be restored. ' Eiiglaiid's Rugby seleetors will have flxe sume dxfiicult task that has already faced lxer selec-tors in other sports, for lixany leadiixg plavers are now approaching the veteran stage and the newcoixiers are largely uxxtried material. England's intonxational full-back, H. J. M. Uren, has gone to Bouth America and K. 1. Geddes, who filled the same

position 'for Bcotland, has decxded to retire from the gaxme. The English seleetors nxust find considerable new material if Eixglaud is to retain the Calcutta Cup. The English Ruglxy Union has decided it will not admit any Rugby League pjavor with the exception of sorvieemen under 19 years of age playing in service matches, axxd tlien only on coixdition that tlxese plavers will not play League after eulistment. The Rugby Union has nxade this exception becaiise football is regarded part of a servi.ceman 's exercise but stiites it has ixo iutention otherwise of relaxing the Rugby Union laws agaixxst professioualisxn.