SELECTION OF TEAMS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2177, 17 June 1914, Page 5

SELECTION OF TEAMS

A PLEA. FOR THE SMALL UNIONS. "The Rugby teams to do battle'for their respective Islands, liavo been chosen for this ■ year, and once again so, far-as the North Island is concerned, the- claims .'of the smaller unions have been completely ignored," writes Mr. W. Hislop, Napier." under dato June 11. - "I should like to ask, Sir, what steps the selectors took to see whether there was any talent in the smaller unions lit for inclusion in the North Island team. The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union extended to tho selectors an-invitation to bo present at the Hawke's Bay v. Wairarapa match, on Juno 8, all expenses to be paid by a few supporters of the game in Napier, but. the three gentlemen, who ho 1(1 a brief for Wellington, 'l'araiiaki; and Auckland, evidently <|id not think the match was worth looking at, and did not even reply to the .invitation. - V "I must give the selectors credit lot the idea "of playing North v. South B teams, but 'here, again, -1 disagree with the selection. I presume that .the selectors are well aware of tlie capabilities-of the players in their three unions, and I contend that the 15 team should be for the: purpose of discovering talent from the- other unions.' But no; once again do the three, uuions who contribute the. whole of the A team come in for their'share. ''Tho representative from this district in tho B team is a player w)io gained his inter-island representative cap a couple ,of years ago whilst playing- for Otago. It is, therefore, very' evident that unless a player plays for a large union, and thus comes under the eyes of the selectors, his chance of inclusion in the New Zealand' teani is practically nil.

"A further.,catering to the Wellington players .'.is' the announcement that, all emergencies are' to bo picked from Wellington, and in all probability n() per cent, of the North Island team will be from one union, though there may be meu in the smaller, union who are mora qualified to places in the team. "With so little encouragement to p'ayers outside the three unions'named, is it any wonder that there aro so many desertions to tho rank? of the_ League, where at present there is no 'ring,' and every player has thus a chance on his merits. ; ' ■ "I- trust, Sir, that at tho next annual meeting'of. the New Zealand Rugby Union.-, the smaller ■ unions will unite, and take a hand in the control of Rugby in the Dominion, for it appears to'me that when the "plums" of Rugby are being given out such unions are not considered. "Trusting i that this-matter will be tak<jn up seriously by the unions which have had for so ; long to take a back seat, and thanking you for allowing the. expression 'of opinion of one who has done a lot of work in -the interests of the good old gariie." '-