RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

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MR;'. PA RATA & H lIS MAORI MEN Mr, Parata Interviewed. "It's simply wonderful," said Mr. W. T. I'arata, "whtn yciu come to think that out of the original 24 men selected only seven' Were able> to make the trip.'' He was referring to- the euicess that had attended tlio Maori team on tour. Mr. Parata left for home on Tuesday last. On tho Tailway ;platform just prior to his departure 110 gavo aorno interesting impressions of his' trip with the Jl ative The visit to Australia has now become a biennial affair. In the past the Maoris liave had (» arrange financo themselves; but on the nest wicasioit that they visit the Commonwealth it will probnbly be as:, guests of tlio Australian Union. This' 'goes to Show that the different Maori teams that have played on the other side, have not only won honours on the field, but have gained the esteem of tlio .authorities.

Conduct on Tour. In'this connection the Maoris.' manager cannot speak too highly of tho conduct of the men in this year's combination. He ,is really proud of them. They were a very happy family on tour, and, as ho pjj.ts.it, "it was a real break-up" when "the' boys" commenced the separation last Monday. Fivo of the men went back to different parts of the South Islaaid, and the Test were for various parts of the north,"

Thay Never "Slowed Down," When the manager made mention of "the boys" one was nroved to ask, in. tho words of Eolmes, "Has there any old follow'got mixKl with, the boys?" Mr. : I'arata beamed all over because tluit brought him to what he regarded as tho most satisfactory phnso of tho whole tour. With tho exctsytion of Takarangi awl Winiata, tho tourists were all young players, and when these were able to hold their own it proved'that the standard of play was improving among the Maori people. Whenever "the boys" had the chance on ft good dry ground they endeavoured to make the play' fast and open. : The spectators on the other sido were always expecting them to slow up towards the finish, but expectations were not always realised. Of tho individual players, "the manager mentioned Grace, Jlylnnd, Blake, Woods, and Hughes in tho backs. .- The last-named was only Sicked up when tho team returned to the lominion. "On his form, I regard Jiim as the be.st full-back in New Zealand," was Mr. Farata's comment. Blake never played half-back wvtil ho went on tour, but did very we'll indeed.

The Maori Van. It is in the .forward play, however, that the Maoris .have improved most. French (Westport), Jacobs (Hoiwhenua), and Paki were capital types of fast, dashing forwards. {Paki was' tho full-back on tour, but was tried in the vanguard on the return to tho Dominion. Ho proved one of the most brilliant of the semmrners. ' Idea of Trip to England. "We are going to make one more bid for an English trip," remarked Mr. Parata. "and if we fail to bring it off—well, we'll;"give it up for good." What is tho difficulty? "There must bo «mo misunderstanding bv itjie English Union." was tho answer. "L-jdon't think the New Zealand Union u-ouild do anything to prevent tho trip, so why should there be any hitch ? The finances could easily be arranged. I have been approached by several wealthy Maoris, .who are willing to provide tho money 'to send the team away, and—to bring it back if necessary. Besides, the class of boys we would select for tho tour would : be a. . credit, hot only tp the Maoris, but to New Zealand. .- On/-the present tour the boys proved they knew how to behave themselves, and they were always in bod by a reasonablo hour."

The Form of New South Wales, Questioned as to tho standard of Rnsby Union play in New South Wales, Mr. Parata said he felt sure .that the team that was coming here, this season would cause a surprise. "I _ only hopo they gst -their full strength nwaj;." he said. "If thsy do I believe they will win most of their matches horo quite easily. It is in their forwards that a. big difference will be noticed. They play, now like a set of. All J5 lacks.. I tell you .'some of our teams, will know something; iabout it before, long. That's tho guard's whistle, I think! Good-bye!, Don't say too much about any particular ono of 'the boys.' They all played great." ..