BIG RUGBY TOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 13

BIG RUGBY TOURS

PRELIMINARY PLANS

ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA

N.Z. UNIONS DESIRES

: The -management -committee of -the New Zealand Eugby Union decided last evening to make three important requests to the International Eugby Board in connection with the 1935-1936 All Black toiir of the' Old Country. The ■ first request was that the New Zealand Union should be" permitted to accept the offer 'of the Newton/Abbot Urban Council -to make Newton .Abbot the headquarters: of the New Zealand team, as was done in 1905 and 1924;' the second, that in order to help the game in Canada the New Zealand team should be allowed to return via Canada and play a series of matches there; third, that, subject to the approval of the English Unions, the team should play,two matches in France. Further correspondence between tho New Zealand Rugby Union and the Bugby Football Union on tho subject of the Scrummage rules is taking place. The New Zealand' Union has written to the English Union, stating that, judging frpm the contents of a circular issued by the latter1 body, the scrummage rule was still giving difficulty to tho English referees, the'same as it was to the referees. in New. Zealand. The- New ' Zealand Union had endeavoured.to see a way; through the difficulty and it seemed that the best way to overcome ' it was to do as had been suggested before bjr New Zealand, that was, that if all referees strictly ruled that all . feet must remain on the ground till thei ball >:p»ssed''.two feet on each side, then no other rul<? was necessary to govern the ball being played in the scrummage. That, suggestion was again submitted- for the consideration of the English Union. A letter..,.was received from Mr. 'S. ¥. Coopper, Secretary of 'the Eugby Football' Union, in which he stilted that he had accepted an invitation to act. as secretary to the tour committee for the' All Black visit. He hoped to , send the terms of the invitation, and a list .of the fixtures shortly. Slight modifications, would be made in the arrange'rnents for"the tour as a, result of experiences gained from recent visits from New South "Wales and South 'Africa,' and'he hoped these would be entirely satisfactory to the New Zealand Union, ■. ..-'.,_■ . . AUSTRALIAN TOUR. ' After some discussion the committee decided; !to make, the following recommendations 'to the New South Wales Eugby Union ,in connection with the All-Black tour toAustralia this year:— That the team should leave Wellington on July 13; arrive Sydney, July 17;' play Queensland, at Brisbane, on Saturday,: July. 21; play Ipswich or Toowoomba, on Wednesday, July 25; play Australia,:at; Brisbane on Saturday, 'July;. 2&; play Newcastle, on Wednesday, August 1; play Australia, at Sydney on Saturday,, August .4; play New South Wales, at' Sydney,'on Monday, August 6,-Y.play' Victoria, at Melbourne, on Sat-: unlay, ■ August 11; play the combined universities, at Melbourne, on Wednesday, August-1&; play Australia, at Sydney,, on Saturday, August 18; leave Sydney for New Zealand on August 18. : .the chairman of the management committee-(Mr, S. S. Dean), in the f'qurse'of 'a report on.his recent holiday •visit ijo^ustjalia, said that he had had the opportunity of meeting the executives of the New South Wales and Victorian Eugby Unions. Tho 1934 tour was discussed with the - New South Wales, .committee, and" although it'was stressed ;tha^''New Zealand would have preferred a visit from Australia this year, it .was found that on account of the Australian tour to South Africa last year it would "be most difficult for the Australian players to get the necessary leayeyl" Dates, were discussed, and, subject'to the approval of the committee, it was agreed that ■ the best time for the tour, would be for the New Zealand . team to. jleave Wellington on July 13 by' the Marasia, and; return- to Now Zealand, by the Monowai; on' August 18 after the final match in Sydney. Kapresentations, hadj been made to the Union .Steamship^ Company, arid it had agreed to delay the steamer in order to meet tW requirements of the Eugby Union»,Thi3 arrangement would enable nine, matches' to be played with three Saturday matches in Sydney.. v. On the suggestion of the New. South Wales • Eugby. Union, Mr. Dean discussed with thc.Viettirian Eugby.Uriiori tho, question of playing one or two matches in Melbourne, and whether it was not in the "best interests of.. the Victorian Union to forgo its match in order to avoid risking. the loss of its capital fund -amounting to r £250. The matter was fully /discussed, arid it was eventually left to.'the two unions to come to some agreement. :■''■■ '..■'' PROGRESS/OF THE SPORT. ~ *'The game is making steady progress in Victoria and no less than forty teams in addition to eleven naval teams were playing Eugby' in. Melbourne last season, " said Mr. Dean. ''The game is n6w being played in the public schools. The' Scotch colleges of Melbourne'and Sydney played: a match last year, -and it'is anticipated,that this will be a forerunner of other public schools ofMelbourne . and Sydney- exchanging visits;" A supporters' association has "been- .formed, and this is giving valuable; assistance to the Eugby Union. The Victorian Rugby Union is iv turn fostering the game in South Australia and last season a Victorian team journeyed to Adelaide, paying most of their own expenses, and played the initial match, against South Australia. . . . In passing I may say that Eraser .Dadds, late of Invercargill; is secretary . of, the Victorian Bugby Union, and this union, like New South Wales, appears well served in the calibre of its officers." ; ; XIOK-IHTO-TOUOH RULE. The New South Wales Union, continued Mr* Dean, was very desirous ■"that the New Zealand and. SouthAfrican Unions join with them in appealing 'to the Rugby Football Union either for an amendment to tho laws of the game, or a'dispensation to allow the kick-into'-touch rule to be given, effect to in Australia. Application was made last year by the Now South Wales Eugby Union to- the Eugby Football, Union for a dispensation, but this did not meet with the approval of the parent body. It was stressed that the .rule'was essential for the welfare of the,, game in. Australia and that the general opinion of the players and the ■ followers of the game was that the present rule had had a marked effect ;on the game in Australia and on the gate takings. '■ "I pointed out to : -thenij?';Baid Mr. Dean, 'Hhat the matter was before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Eugby Union, when a notice of motion brought forward by the Hawke's Bay Eugby Union was turned down by the delegates, the vote being 25 fdr, and 44 .against. In view of thiis resolution, I- advised .that the New Zealand Committee could not sup- ' port, the appear to England, but that I would represent their views to the New Zealand Union, and if the annual conference considered that any amendment was necessary the matter should be referred to a suggested conference of unions to be held in England during the visit of our team in'l93s. That would be an . opportune time to bring the matter forward. It was not known finally by the' New South Wales Eugby Union' what ■ attitude South Australia is adopting towards sending their appeal to the Eugb^ Football JJuion.'-?