ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1536, 4 September 1912, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

OVERSEA RUGBY. HOME INFLUENCES AGAINST US. THE OUTLOOK NOW. MR- GALBRAITH INTERVIEWED. "Dear Sir,—ln reference- to a suggested visit from New Zealand,'l l»eg to inform you that a South African team is coming over next season as the joint guest of tho four Homo unions. My committee feel that it . would be better to see how'this system worked before making any pronouncement with regard to a visit from New Zealand. My. committee liavo had a similar request to yours from New South Wales. Perhaps; you would let mo know whether in tho event of a tour being arranged a, combined team from New Zealand and Australia would be agreeable to your union."

The above is an extract oi a letter written by Mr. Marriott, secretary ot tho English Rugby Union to Mr. C. wray Palliser, representative for the r»ow /.ealand Rugby "Union in. London, and was "exhibited" to tho reporters at tho last meeting "of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and passed practically without comment of any'kind. As the letter— or, rather, the suggestion. which it con-, tained—appeared to be of more than passin* interest, a Dominion representative sought fuller information from the chairman of the New' Zealand Eugbv Union (Mr. Neil Galbraith), who responded with an interesting review- of tho position in New Zealand as far as big Bugby football was concerned. . • .

No Invitation from Englandv x "Tho position is," said Mr. Galbraith, "that for tho past year or. two we havo had no big Rugby football. We did expect that wo would probably receive an invitation from England to send a team Homo this year, but, as it turns out, South Africa was given preference, which put us out of courtaltogetker. Uβ were surprised to ! find tho International Board giving preference to South Africa, seeing that wo were really the pioneers of international Rugby football as far as tho Dominions were concerned, and the tact that wo established ourselves so,™ 1 ,. 0 . , } the occasion of . the visit of the All Blacks!: in. 1905." .'.

Why Not Invited? "From privato advices," continued Mr. Galbraith, "it was ascertained that, in certain quarters in the Old Country there was a strong influence working .against New Zealand, and we were • inclined to think- that tho much-debated allowance of 3s. per day for out-of-pocket expenses, might have caused that ieeims, but investigation by correspondence disabused our minds of that,-and also clearly established "that there was an influence working against us and in favour ot South Africa. . , . „. "MthougTi'it has not been stated oft-' cial'lv, it appears that there are one or two 'gentlemen interested m K\ l S«3' .»'; fairs in tho Old Country who have just found out that, compared with South •Vfrica, certain methods ot play adopted by our players have had a prejudicial ei.fect : against us." . . ■ .....

The Hint to Join in With New.-South Wales. ''Quite recently wo received a proposal from- Home suggesting that New South Wales and New Zealand should combine to'sqnd a team Homo for the season 191J--11. I feel certain that the proposal will M iust.ns.: ; .unpalataUe to Now South Wales as toVburselveKv As already stated, :we have long ; ag6 established ourselves, m the front tank of Kugby football in the world, arid there'is,r,o reason why we. silouldiiflinki'our .identity by amalgamating Wth^e-ifeSqivth ,, Wales. , ■ ."Now.pjnWrpferepce to the interchange ■of visitS'*fcetweejt"'New Zealand and iNew . s6ntli;;'Wales7 As "you know, we have not hadVa/visit'from.New South AJ ales fqi Wven year.?.' Wo returned the 1905, visit Sn iJoo7,;:aud, iiL.the ordinary courso o events, the; 'Blues' should have plajcd here iii 1910, but at the urgent ret[uest of the New South Wales Union, we sent a team across that year. We expected that ;that.Tisit would have been returned last; season, but, unfortunately,, a little hitch occurred" between tho unions over the visit of tho Californian University team, ami nothing has transpired. tions-are now being carried on, and it hoped'that,an amicable settlement mil shortly be made." "...' Joint Invitation to America. "As :tho.result of the visit of tho American University team, 'New South Wales ami ■ New Zealand, have received a; joint invitation^ -from, H">-J°*-erniiU body in California asking thatiVcw South' Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand combine in sending a. team to visit California this season, ior the reasons already stated (in the case of Great Britain)' wo did not consider the proposal favourably, but a combined Aew South Wales and ■ Queensland team is leaving Sydney on September/ for fcan FmucFsco, and will be m Woliington .on September 12 and 13. The team w being managed by Dr. 0. Bohrsmanu. W. llill, secretary to the New feouth Walco Union, will accompany it as far as VU'llin"toai. It is not considered likely that the"team will play.in Wellington. •

To America Next Year. "It is hoped that arrangements may ho made to send a purely Ncw/ealaivl team to California next year, will icmember that it was.the tho '■Vll Black' team who were actually-the pioneers of Kugby in California. They played in New York, Son Irmicisco, ami Vancouver on their return trom l,nglan;l. It at once struck root, is flourishing in California, and its vogue is extending eastward rapidly. I should have mentioned that ih' all probability there will be a New South Wales team playing in New Zealand next season.

Beckoning South Africa Here. "Vii invitation was sent to South Afriwi to visit New Zealand on their return from Great Britain last year, out amongst tther difficulties it was pointed out that thtfr ssason commences with ours, whicli m>'ant leaving South Africa at tho end of summer, instead of at.the end ot a football season, as is tho case when Australasian .teams visit England or vico versa. Still we hopo that in the near future an arrangement will bo come to for an into change of visits.

•" Rugby in the Argentine. "Rugby is making great headway in the Argentine. A little while ago we had a letter from an old New Zealand representative player, now in tho Argentine, su*I'estiusr that arrangements might lie mailo when'the nest team went to bngland to break tho journey at Monte Video, and play two or three nratch.es in tho Argentine."

RUGBY CODE,

AUCKLAND'S NEXT TEAM. (By Telcfraph.-Pro33 Association.) Auckland, September 3. Tho Auckhnd Rugby team against Otago will be the same as fhat, which debated Wellington and Tarai.aki, with the •exception of Hall, who is jumble to pliiy aad will be replaced by Walsh.

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

The following players have been selected to represent Wellington against Canterbury at Christchnrch on Saturday next:~Bncks, Anderson, Kelly. Sun Wil"(xa, W. Wilson, Murphy,.Buckland, Pmlavson, Barber; forwards, Irvine, Ashtcii, R<stt, M'Callion, Sullivan, Campbell, W. Ring, and J. weaver. Tho southern players ordered to go into special training for tho League match (i»(iiusfc New South Wales at Auckland oil Saturday next are:-C. King (Wellington), Kyle (Taraunki), forwards, and BradJoy, Kelly, Cook (Wellington), and Dnvall (Hawke's Bay), backs,

ASSOCIATION

AXOTHEE FHIELD CH.ALLF.KGE. A meeting of the 'cenncil of th» >"*w ?>Hiarid TootV.airA«.«ociation : -»ms- trtld last evening, Mr. H, M'Keo.wen presiding.

There were also present:—Messrs. J. J. Roberts, J. Lewis, 11. Yeoman, H. Godber, Vs. Wells, H. Mayer, L. White, W. J. H. Reynolds, and B. L. Snlmcn (secretary). A large amount of correspondence was received from Dunedin and Timaru regarding tho alleged transfer of two playera from the Albion Rovers Club (Timaru) to the Kaitansatn- Club (Otago). Tho latter club had played the men in question, and had beaten Moruincton fox the championship. Tho bona fides of the transfers from one district to the other were questioned. It was suggested by some of the correspondents that the transfer was merely an "importation, ami they asked Tor a ruling on the following question, "Can players be transferred from oiio district to the other for one match?" .. , , On the motion of Mr. J. .T. hooorts, seconded by Mr. 11. Godber, it was decided:—"That the -council's rule and opinion nppcrtaiu only to iplnyers who, having played in inter-provincial matches for one province, removing to another province, and wish to play for the latter province in inter-provincial matches l« tho same season., Tho case in point is one that can only bo adjudicated upon on provincial rules, and if Mormnglon did not put in a (protest there is np case. If Stomington does protest, it is then the duty of the Otago Association to deal with tho matter, and if in the ease under review o'ie of the two clubs concerned objects to Otngo's ruling then that club has a .right of appeal to the New Zealand Council." > ■ . The suspension for two weeks imposed on R, Kirknoss by tho Otago Football Association was confirmed. Holland, ot the Morningtoai Club, was suspended till tho end of the first round of the season IQIQ ; A return supplied by the Auckland Aseociation showed there wore 40 teams. playing under its jurisdiction. Otago lud K, Southland 20, and Manawatu 9. Iho latter district shows an increase of five teams'over last year's figures. In replj to a request by tho Poverty Bav Association regarding tho length of studs used on tho boats of sonio of the Canterbury players in tho recent Brown ■ Shield match, "Mr. H. Yeoman (reforee). stated that ho had examined the boots of the players in question before the match, and hail found that tho studs were of the regulation size, viz., half an inch. A challenge for a Brown Shield match against Canterbury was received from Taranaki. According to Rule 5, Canterbury had the option of declining ..this challenge on account of its being tho fifth this season. They, therefore, exercised this right, and declined to. play. It was decided to inform Taranaki that their challenge had been declined, and also that it would bo taken as tho first challenge next season or, in the event of Wellington or Otago defeating bury, the' challenge would hold good' against cither of tho winners this season. 1

BOWLS,

NEW TROPHY FOR COMPETITION., (By Tclegrauh.—Press Association.) Feilding, September 3. A handsome cup has been donated to Hie Feilding Boiling Club by Mr. Hum, late of Wellington. Tho committoo has decided to hold an annual tournament for it on January 1 and 2 in each year, en the same conditions as tho IvceSing Cup. The following clubs are to be invited to compete:—Wellington. Victoria, Falinerston, Terrace End, Taihapo, Wanganui, nnd St. John's. , \. ~".;'■ ■-, ■■.;■

HOCKEY. -V

WEEK'S CBOUNDS AND MATCHES.. The fixtures for Saturday next, September 7, are the samo as arranged for last Saturday, with the following alterations of grounds:— . _~■■. The senior game, \ictona. Collego v. Metropolitan, will be played on >.o. 2 ground, Day's Bay. The third-class gamp, Kilbirnio Anglican v. Greggs, will bo played at Karori.

BOXING.

CURRAN DEFEATS MOIH, Bt Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrieht

London, September: 2. Petty-officer Ciirrau,' tho Irish heavyweight boxer, knocked out Gunner Moir, an English heavy-weight, in tho first round.