THE RUGBY GAME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 11

THE RUGBY GAME

VOICE OF DOMINIONS

IMPERIAL BOARD WANTED

COMMENT IN ENGLAND

With regard to the aims of the Rugby.: Unions of the Dominions to seek a voice in the making of the.rules of the game, there is an impression in some quarters that representation is desired on tho International Rugby football Board. This is quite wrong, as tho board has no jurisdiction over the game as played in the separate countries. It exists for tho following purposes:—(l) Framing the laws of'the game for international matches,' and (2) settling all questions connected with or-..arising out of an international match, including appeals against referees' decision's therein, and all questions of an international chars eter between unions arising otherwise than out of an international match. It consists of representatives - only from the English, Welch, Scottish, and Irish Ttugby Unions. New Zealand and tho other overseas Dominions desire the formation of an Imperial Rugby Board on which they shall have adequate representation. So far, however, the board has not seen eye to eye with the Dominions and those unions advancing their claims. s , LAW; MAKING. ) The whole matter is discussed iit a recent issue of "The Field," which states:—The international Bugby Board •will-shortly'be'lidding a meeting, at .which the future unity of the Rugby game will be an important matter for decision. At present the board's authority is ostensibly limited to international matters; it has no control .bver the separate unions represented on it, which please themselves whether tor not they adopt for their clubs the laws of the game laid down by the Jioard for international matches. (Three years ago there were several differences in the laws adopted by the unions and chaos threatened juntil the unions agreed among themteelves to adoptithe International Board Jaws for a period of three years. That period expires this season; and it now remains to be seen whether the unions jwill agree permanently to play under the International Board laws. Such'a (decision would mean virtually the constitution of the International Board as the lawmakers for the game; and ipso ifacto the objection to France's representation on the board could no longer tjo reasonably maintained. Nor ought the unions of South Africa, New Zea3and, and Now South Wales to be refused /direct representation any longer. In isbort, the -time seems to have, arrived jto centralise the. government of the Bugby game under a new body, be it jcalicd the-International Board or any other name. Tho Rugby Union, the original law makers for tho game, are no longer able to command the authorSty to control other, governing bodies, .though, the overseas unions- are represented, oil the committee. i PRANCE'S AMBITION. To many people, the victory of 'France. Sn the international "Rugger" championship would;be' welcomed; to others it would bo. regarded as a sporting calamity (declares a London writer). Should France overcome tho next two pbstaeles to their greatest ambition we shall have arrived at a situation of a lather extraordinary character. France have.not the slightest chance of entering into anything of' a legislative Jiature connected with the. game at present. . ;They have applied for 'recognition oli the International Board, but their demand has" lieen refused time and jagain.., When, two seasons-ago, they defeated Wales for the first' ■ time, they raised an important point. "Since 3.90 C," they said, "we have been playing against the four British unions. "We have now defeated all of them, Borne on more occasions than the others, and we hay'erp,r'ovcd the possibility of our -game, and the fact that we, are really enthusiastic in the matter of its progress over here.. We possess more clubs and players than either England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales, and Rugby [Union football has been adopted as the" chief sport in our Army. ' Surely the time has arrived when we should be recognised?" The claims of France for at least one representative on the' International Board are so strong, it really appears ■unnecessary to advance them. Take their- playing record. They have now defeated both Scotland and Ireland on four occasions,-and once drew with the former; they have defeated and drawn %vith England—the draw was at .Twickenham—and they have one suepess over Wales. .': - "We know that Scotland have adopted the attitude- of not regarding their annual match with France as an international-—and,' by the irony of fatey thd Scottish have the'worst record 'against ■■ them," .states the writer. "Their view is an- illogical one. , But the^'other members of the International Board, four from England and.two each from Ireland and Wales,; possess sufficient power to overcome.any objection from Scotland as to the admission of F.nnce to the council chambers of the game. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE, "As they have failed to,accord the Tight of representation to New Zealand,; South Africa, and New South Wales, they are now faced with two crises that may have* a -far-reaching adverse, effect on the game throughout the world. I believe, from conversations I have had with prominent 'Rug,'ger' ineu. from the Dominions, and with members of. the Federation Franeais de Bugby, that unless something is done, and done quickly, we shall witness two splits of a regrettable nature. France are determined in the event of their very justifiable demands being flouted, •to centre their attention on the founding.of a European Rugby Union,, while the, Dominions will sever their connection with the Home unions,1 regrettable as it would be to them. "A European Rugby Union could be easily formed, straight away. Franco, .Germany, Ttaly, and Spain are playing •'the game in all seriousness, and other : Continental-nations are beginning to be enthusiastic as to its possibilities. ■Should such a union bo formed, we shall .probably sac three i different 'Rugger' . '.camps'-—British, Colonial, and Contin-ental—-and it might mean an end to the visits to this country of extremely .attractive fifteens. WHY A DANGER? ■ "What is always a mystery to me is ■why thero should be any suspicion that the introduction .to the International Board of Representatives of our three great Dominions and France would be a danger. These four uniting are only too anxious to fall into line with the Home unions as regards the laws .of-the game. They have proved it. But wo ■will suppose for a moment that there was a deep conspiracy on the part of the four materially to alter the present Jaws. What could . they do? They would be faced with an overwhelming opposition, for the International Board (jonsiats of ten members from the Home unions. The idea is ridiculous."