THE AMERICAN TEAM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 6

THE AMERICAN TEAM.

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. MANAGER'S VIEWS ON RUGBY. .. ITS CHANCES IN THE STATES. Perhaps for the reason that it occurred at nine o'clock in tho morning, tho arrival of tho, Californian University football team was a quiet affair. A few Rugby Union officials, Messrs. G. Dixon, M. Galbraith, H. Kelly, -Wallburton; and J. D, Avery, met the incoming Warrimoo to extend a word of welcome to tho visitors, and as they crossed the gangway a scattered crowd on tho wharf sent up a round of cheers. They afterwards proceeded to tho Grand Hotel whore they are now staying. Even a . caiuless observer _ passing through the streets yesterday forenoon might have noted the appearance ol an obviously foreign element.- The number of tho visiting Californians is small, but the general appearance of the group is novel. Their dress in itself is decidedly distinctive in character. Most of them ■ allect flannel suits ot ample make that fall in folds about the athletic figures of their wearers. Not one. of- them, however, sported an article of apparel that could be justly characterised as "loud," but evidently all are devotees of perfect ease so far S3 undress uniform is concerned. Physically every one of them is a splendid type of youthful manhood. The features of most of them are typically American, though, of course, not- of the conventional typo of English caricature pictures of "Uncle Sam," any more than the ordinary British subject is tho least bit like the usual cartoon of "John Bull." . A Hustling Manager. Mr. D. Burbank, the manager of tho Californian team, is', a past master of the. peculiarly American art of hustle. A Dominion representative found him yesterday in a hotel vestibule immersed in a sea of affairs. With quick precision he gave directions to this man and that,. and as he prepared to hurry away, assured another that Tie would meet him, at a given time and place if the laws of distance and hustle would permit. He consented' to withdraw for a s moment from p'ressing- affairs to outline in- a few brief, crisp sentences the -purpose of the present tour and tho prospects of Rugby football in America. , Dissatisfied With American Came. "Yes," he began, "this tour is going to have an - all-important .bearing on. the evolution of football in America, and in hastening the adoption of the Rugby game." Speaking of the States as.a whole, he stated that the development has not yet gono far. As yet Rugby has been taken, up whole-heartedly only by the Californian universities—Nevada, Stanford, and California. But the 'game is spreading and gaining favour among the preparatory colleges of 'Southern California. About twenty-five per cent, have already adopted Rugby, and more will follow their example in the future. It is not to be assumed that the game is making .equal progress' east of-'the Rockies. But 'there are at least indication's that Rugby will ere long-have its day in the Eastern States as well as in California. Injiis official capacity- at Stanford University, Mr. Burbank has received innumerable, letters -from, those_ responsible for the conduct of football in the Eastern States. Tneru is kpen dissatisfaction with the' heavy fighting American gamo, and tho times are ripe lor change and reform. What the Tour Means. The tour of the Californian University team is going to give the chango a. big and healthy impetus. The boys and men who are its members will' not only uplift the game of Rugby football while playing in then- collego teams, but will be, in the future, football coaches at preparatory colleges and schools in all parts of the States. The experience they are now undergoing will' have .a wide-Teaching influence 'in ' hastening tho general adoption of Rugby throughout the States. .' . ' '- ■'_ . For the - manner in which- footballand its affairs are organised in this part of the world,-Mr.' Burbank expresses 'unqualified admiration. Tho organisation of the gamo and tho spirit in which it is. tackled are ■ splendid— perfect, ho declared "what.struck us .most'in Australia was that every day wo. met men who played 'or had played Rugby, or had sons devoted to- the game. Its splendid popularity is * thing to be admired." ■■ ' ' The Cancer of Professionalism. A suggestion that possibly the spirit of devotion to Rugby was carried just

a little bit too far Mr. Burbank repudiated without a second's hesitation. '"This enthusiastic devotion to a popular sport is just tho best way. to got a good red-blooded stalwart • people," ho asserted with emphasis. In thus speaking ho was guided mostly,-iperhaps, by a deep sense of what is lacking iu America. 'In tho States, he pointed out, thoro is far too much professionalism. Baseball is entirely in the, hands of professional teams. Amatour football is practically confined to tho colleges. For the rest it, too, is professional. Between tho amateur sport of the colleges and professionalism thero lies a great gap, which ought to ho filled in by popular participation in healthy sport. .This gap, Mr. Burbank intensely desires to seo bridged over, and tho aspiration lends interest aud purpose.to'tho tour ho is conducting. Lastly, it may be' said. that ho docs uot seem to-oatcrtaiu...a. doubt -that tho

Rugby gamo is well fitted to servo as a' Ixtso for tho great reform which ho and the lusty youngsters of tho Californian team are doing so much to further. The last word of tho genial manager was in praise of the hospitable spirit in which Australasian Britons had welcomed the team. "We anticipated finding ourselves among a foreign people," he said, "but instead have found ourselves right at home." OFFICIAL. RECEPTION. A CIVIC WELCOME. 'y Despite the somewhat inconvenient hour at which it was held, a very large number of people attended tho official reception to the American footballers in the Town Hall last evening. The Mayor, Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., presided aver the gathering,,and with him on tho platform, besides the members of the visiting team, and its manager, Mr.. D. Burbank, were Mrs. Wilford, Messrs. G F. C. Campbell and G. Dixon, representing the Wellington and Now Zealand Rugby Unions, ,and, a number of cjfcy councillors and - their wives. In extending. a civic welcome- to the team, Mr. Wilford remarked that Ame- ■ riea could be said to be, if nothing else, a country of. young men and for young men. In this first visit of their Californian friends to take part in the Rugby gamo, .New Zealand would, give thein such a welcome that it would lead to a return visit from New Zealand to California, and probably. to a series ■ and .interchange' of visits. _ They_ hoped it would be possible to give their American cousins "a little instruction in Rugby, 'but,-if not, they were quite prepared to taike a.'beating if they could give it. On. behalf, of the city—a football city if ever there was one —ho extended a hearty welcome to them. At the conclusion of Ms address the Mayor called for oheers for .the 'visitors, which, wero given. • • Sowing the Seeds. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell extended a welcome to the Californians, on behalf both of the New. Zealand'and of the Wellington: Rugby Union; It was, -he said, not so many years ago since, in. sending a team to Great Britain, iti had occurred to the Rugby Union that it would be a good thing to Jet it return via. America. ■ Their late Premier, the Right Hon-. R. J.'Seddon, recognising the"' value of international amenities, had himself, assisted, tho team monetarily in order that it might visit America'. He.would not-venture to say that this visit sowed the seeds, of Rugby football in America, but the Rugby Union liked to think so. H© hoped that their visit might lead to a regular interchange of teams, not only betweett this Dominion and America, ■ but between the Old Country; and America. -.'.''■ "A Nation of Young Men." Mr. Bra-bank said his comrades and himself appreciated the welcome given them from the very bottom of their Ihearts. His auditors must not think thai because they came from a long way across the' sea they knew nothing of New Zealand. They had looked forward to this visit v for a long while. Americans had their eyes on New Zealand, and greatly, admired the results attained under its system of Government. America had been, justly, described as a nation of young men, and they had taken it into their heads that they would like'to keep it young. To that end they would try to copy the splendid system of athletics throughout the people they had seen in operation here. They would tako it back with them, and so assist the development of a virile red-blooded race that would stay young. Rugby had been located oh the Pacific Coast for about five years. Thus far they had been engaged in an endeavour to grasp fundamental points, and they had come here to learn. ' They know they would have to fight hard, sinco they would'be pitted, against the best teams in the world. The American people would as fully appreciate the welcome tendered them .that evening as. they did themselves. In New -Zealandtliey had found things different only in that some thing&Ywere better. They found themselves- among a kindred people, who were riot only cousins, but brothel's. .Greeting and Defiance. " Mr. C. Cert', captain of the American team, said lie 'was sure membets of the team- very much appreciated the welcome, given them by tho Mayor and citizens of' Wellington. ■ They were much happier ' now than they had thought they would be before they got here. All they had seen had appealed to them very much. As to football, they.would not apologise now nor would they apologise at all. They would do. the best, they could, and -that was all any team could, do. They hoped to win one match at least before they left New Zealand. (Applause.) When they left New Zealand they would take something back

■ n'ith there, something that would enable them in tho future to win uot ono match only but many.. Subsequently the team,'iu responso to an insistent demand from .tho audience, gave their "war-cry,", n- roaring chant, interspersed with weird and fear--somo yells.