RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2156, 23 May 1914, Page 12

RUGBY.

[Br Look.]

THE GAME IN CALIFORNIA. . Somo recent communications from California indicated that Rugby at thej universities' in that Stato was doomed to early and inglorious extinction, but Hater information indicates that those ) forebodings were exaggerated. It transj pires, acording to , the Sydney i "Referee," that tho institution affected lis tho University of Southern California, J and not that to which James SchaefFcr ,'is coach. Tho "Rcforee's" commissioner j in America finds food* for laughter in j the allegation that Rugby is too rough, !' and comments upon tho situation in the following terms: — "Rugby football is much rougher and more productive 'of injuries than tho 'American game, and therefore the University of Southorn California will drop it and revert to the latter."

These are the words, of wisdom from the' lips of Warren F. Bovard, jun., athletic manager of tho University. You people who'havo never seen an American gamo should just read tho first chapter of Ralph Connor's novel "Tho Prospector." You will' find thoro a ; description of one American game, which I 'is not as rough as it caii be, and incidentally you 'will got 011 to a book which jou will want to read. j But lot tho American .game stand. 'Hearken again to Bovard: "Rugby has been a filuro after a fair ■test. It is impossible to control a Rugby gamo in tho same degree as tho American game. It requires 30 husky • young fellows, on tho field instead of 22 in tho American. It has one controlling'official on tho field against threo in tho American, and therefore it gets rougher." If the feeling towards referees adopted by Americans in football matches bo anything akin to the treatment of umpires iii baseball matches, I should say that they would want one referee to each'man. But more of Boyard:

'"Tho'scoring, in tho American game ■.'is'.much better. In Rugby three points I are allowed for crossing tho line, and (two for kicking goal. In tho American ! game the points allowed are six and ono. Kicking from'touch makes Rugby !a comparatively monotonous gamo. 1 "I'predict, (hat. iv.will have disappeared from American colleges within five years." •

The latter part of. which, at any rate, ■j'is all moonshino! Because the University of Southern California has failed to jmako a success of a. good you, tho success or otherwise of any sport at. American Universities is largely duo to tho managers—why should Stanford or the University of California, or the many colleges which | play tho game, givo it up ? Let the U. ' !of S.C. quit. They-have failed to-keep 1 Space with tho two San Franciscan ' Varsities in athletic relations, but let them ' "add up"' their talk of the death of Ithe game. The Stanford, and California ■ i managers assure me that tho gamo will ■J bo stronger than over next year. ■ ' This brief clipping from the "Buliletin" also has a bearing on tho posiMtioii:—"Although'.' football, in Sydney 'kicked off in a.mutilating mood, it has '. a long way to travel before the Yankeo , ■' record is in danger of boine eclipsed. V In tho 13 seasons .ending with 1913_tho '." casualty list Worked out 234 mortalities and'26o3 injuries. Yet they talk about •' tho brutality of boxing 1" •

Australian Visits. ' Tho Sydney University team will visit Now Zealand for the regular. intpr-'VarJ sity fixtures'this-season, and will leave Sydney on August 15. Fixtures will bo arranged at'C'liristchurch' and."Wellington, but it is improbable (an Australian exchange states) that a visit will bo paid to Auckland on account of the limited vacation.- Arrangements havo been made 'l>y which' all tho fixtures in both first and second grado will bo carried out, .as tho first team will havo tho services ;of somo playo-s who temporarily rei tired, but will bo available at tho end of I 'August. Tho King's School is also plan- ! ning a tour of the Dominion, and ini tends to plav the "Wanganui College in i June. All these visits to New Zealand 1 (it is remarked) should havo the effect of improving New South Wales football, '. as no better teaching grounds than tho .'fields of New- Zealand could be found. Tho "Referee" states that tho tour twill bo considerably shortened, and only two'cities will bo visited—either Auckland and Wellington or Christchurch and Wellington. . Toowoomba Union is anxious for a .visit from either Now Zealand or.Now South AYales this season, but owing to * tho Bluos going north by boat, tho pro- ' bability of tho side visiting that city is \Tomoto, while tho New Zealand fixtures (have all been arranged, '

,The Mana of Taranaki, After many years of striving 'the Taranaki Rugby team, representing town and country clubs stationed as many as CO miles apart, last year managed to wrest tho Ranfurly Shield from tho accepted champions of the Dominion, tho Auckland team, Even in ordinary circumstances there must bo considerable speculation as to tho chances of this trophy remaining in its now home: but current events in Taranaki football circles (says a local writer) lnako it a nioro than over debatablo ■point. Calling to mind one by ono tho nicn who brought this groat honour to tho dairy provinco, wo find that tho crcafc Tamu, ono of tho most brilliant forwards seen in a decado, has ''crossed -tho line." No ono but his colleagues /in tho Taranaki fifteen can fully rcaliso what this means. His.was often the initiative, and his the great propelling power in thoso well-nigh irresistiblo forward dashes that swept all but the sturdiest and cleverest opponents aside. At jtho samo timo Stohr and Brown (Tufkapa), Now Zealand representative i players, have so far been unable to play •on Saturdays. Lovcridge,New Zealand i three-quarter, can make it convenient. jlTawkins, another representative forward, it is said, mav be unable to play at all. Tho Stratford Club is left alone in the Thursday competition, itnd will ho forced to join in tho Saturday game with cither the north or tho south division. The crux of tho matter is now that many of the ambor-and-black representatives are reported to be unablo to play on Saturdays, and will thus get little, if any. practice. What will bo the outcome? Will a sufficiently strong team he forthcoming to hold the Ranfurly Shield?

Sotting Standards. Tho New South 'Wales representative team for Queensland was to liavo been Delected on Saturday next. A "Telegraph" writer remarked last week that >t was almost certain that the combination .would be picked mostly on the form displayed by the men against New Zealand on the tour through the Dominion last year, but, he added, it was very likoly that a number of the country backs would be unable to make tho trip owing to the fact that witli their own club matches just starting they might not be in anything like form. One of last, mar's best (earns ran something like this Dwyer or Simpson; tbren-qnarters, Carr. Jones, Wogan, and Sul.toii; live-eighth. Tas-K-t: half, AVood: forwards, Watson, O'Donnell, George, r'ahoy, Wallam, Thompson, Duffy, Reynolds. At pre-

sent some of these forwards are rather on- tho slon side. A Queensland Notable. An exchange regretfully records the fact that Mr. W. T. Evans, who throughout a brilliant sporting career lias boon more popularl.y known as "Poley," has tendered his resignation as chairman of the Executive of tho Queensland Rugby Union. For somo timo Mr. Evans's duties have greatly 'interfered with tho timo ho might otherwiso have devoted .to tho Rugby Kame, and this fact has, in the main, oeen his reason for the step now taken. Sir. Evans is chairman of the Queensland Cricket Association, and an ardent' follower of tennis, which invariably claims his attention at tho week ends during winter. Tho Q.R.U. Executive has not yet dealt with tho resignation, but it is generally understood that in deference to Mr. Evans's wishes, it will bo accepted. If Mr. Maurice Baldw*i will accept the post it is intended to offer it to him. Paid Coaches. At tho annual meeting of the International Board in Edinburgh on March '2.0, lilt. i\ D. Schofield, of., Wales, who occupied the chair, later in the thy was referee in tho Scotland v. England match at Inverleith. Amongst tho business was the passing of tho following resolution: "That the employment of a paid trainer or coach is contrary to tho principles of amateur Rugby football." In recording this resolution the "Athletic News" statos that "in the colonies and in the United States there will probably be an outcry against the law, but there they can pleaso themselves. Franco also have club trainers, and there, too, the resolution may be deemed irksome. In the United Kingdom the professional coach or trainer is barred." An Audacious Offender.

Ail amusing incident is reported in a first grado match at Dunedin. A wellknown forward of one team had been hanging on to the jersey of a forward in tho opposition pack at frequent intervals —a most annoying practice, as overy footballer who has experienced it will understand. The innocent forward endured the encumbranco to breaking point,.and was about to retaliate when the arch-offender dragged his victim under the eyes of the referee and said: "Now, then, young fellow, if you don't stop that hanging on I'll report you to tho _ referee I" Anger was not proof against such audacity, and the victim smiled helplessly at the deception. In a paragraph last week Mr. Oscar Kember, ono of the Wellington Rugby Union selectors, was spoken of as a member of tho Oriental Club. As a fact he is an old and valued member of the Wellington Club.