BRITISH RUGBY TEAM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 41, 18 February 1930, Page 8

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM

TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND

QUESTION OF LEAVE

It is expected that the British Eugby football team to tour Now Zealand will bo announced shortly. A preliminary selection was made somo time ago, but sinco then the.selectors havo been compelled to revise their list of players for the tour, as'quite a. number of the players have intimated that they are unable t-omako the tour. Keports from England also indicate- that on this Beason's form there, arc numorous other players entitled to consideration for the tour. One of tho difficulties with which the selectors are -faced is the matter of leave for the. players,, and in thia conuectiou there has been somo discussion on tho "stringent rules with regard to professionalism." Kowo Harding, the well-known international player, makes reference to thomatter in a book which hu has written about Rugby football. As ouo writer1 puts. it. he has the sense to discern latter-day Rugby problems, the existence of which many people prefer to ignore-, and ho has dragged them up in the. cold light of discussion. "I supposo the employment by a synv. pathetic factory-owner of a workman who is :i good Rugby footballer, while it may offend the spirit, does not break' the letter of tho Rugby Union laws," writes "Tho Judge," "but Mr; Harding boldly ''"suggests* that these laws should be.amended and relaxed before the British team sails for tho forthcoming Australasian tour. Ho is , quite right, of course, iv, pointing out thatunless a-..really representative team is sent out tho tour\will be a,failure, and he is right, also, when be says that the tour is something much more tharr a mere Hugby-playing expedition; that -national prestige is.at stake. Ju order that we shall send our best yilayers, why, then, should not each ono who goes have his position, or some equally good position, guaranteed for him on his return home"! I'agree also with our nx-C'ambridge. captain thai; grants should'bo made, when ..necessary, to those, who cannot afford to buy the necessary kit -. for tho . journey, and a rc.'isonabhv .sum "iilloVvo.il for out-of-pocket cxpfi.ine?." . .-..'. ' "HOMERICSTRUGGLES." A rpfereiii-o to -tho Rugby tour, to New -Zoalaiia' is vmado by a writer (Frank Mitchell)- in. tho courso of. an article in' .'tho '.''Empire, Roview," as follows:—',' Much ivill bo expected of the results'.of'this tour. Given orditiary luck', V really, well-selected team from Homo should bo able to hold and perhaps; beat- our opponents -on tbeir own ground, l'hero will bo some Homeric struggles, it is true, but we should havo every chance if only we can .overcome' tlio initial difficulties on this side. That,is the most serious part oE-.tho question, lie tho outcome what it may, wo can look forward to strengthening tlio relations between those particular Dominions aud oursolves, for in Mr. James Baxter, who will bo in charge of the side, we have a confessed Imperialist. His object will certainly be to inquiro into and smooth-.over.any difiic.ulties thero may bo between >thc;ur and . ourselves. It gooß without- saying that whatever side we solid tlio.very best traditionsof the gamo. will bo upheld; win or lose,, our men will play tho game and will bo met. iii the same spirit exactly by thoso ou the Other side."