FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1432, 17 April 1905, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION,

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Saturday. The annual report of the New Zealand Rugby Union shows that, after paying all expenses, the Union has £ISOO in hand from the British team’s tour. There was a loss of £2B on the North v. South Island match. A combined team from New South VValea and Queenland will tour the colony during; the comipg season, leaving Sydney on August 12th. Regret was exprfessod that the game was not free from certain evils; that- from time teftime bring odium upon it. Though there, were satisfactory indications , that tho unions are alivß to their responsibilities, there was a tendency to leniency, and an' appeal was mado to the unions.‘to create a higher ideal of play. Consideration might be given to the question of modifying the law so as to eDable its wider observation being brought to boar upon the field of play to oopo with evils which' everyone kne.w to exist/ Regarding the tour of the New Zealand team to England, matters in connection with the tour 'wore in a forward state. The first matah in England would be ployed on December 16th, and the last bn December 30th. Tho whole tour would last seven months.. Twenty of the twenty-six players had been chosen, I subject to their retaining their form, and I passing medical examination ; the remaining, will be chosen early in the coming season. The opinion. of the English secre- I tary is that, if the team is. a capable one, gate receipts” would be no cause for anxiety. . The_ total 'cost of the tour is I estimated .at £6OOO, of which the New I Zealand Union, supported by tho affiliated I unions,, will put , down . £2OOO, leaving £4OOO to be obtained by'gate money. In I order,to land tho team in England with I sufficient money, however,, it has, 'been I decided} to issue debentures representing I £2OOO, of which £IOOO , are already sub- I soribed./Appeal is made for a further I £IOOO. , ' • ’ . ’ 1 ; : ;

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM FOR 1907. Wellington, Saturday. A member, of the New Zealand. Rugby Union Executive .has!received a private letter from Home, conveying the information that a strong British team is suro to visit Australasia in 1907, and that it is intended .to play matches in this colony before goipg to Australia. Several of the best players in England have intimated their intention of coming over with the team.