FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MATCH

, W ELLINGTON, June 25. 'Hie New Zealand Rugby Union has received a statement from England on Hie subject of the third international fixture match in which the South of England i s set down as the final match !" a stannous tour. This, the most important match of all, has been the subject of negotiations between the •nul New Zealand.

In a letter, Mr Charles Mariroti secretary of the English Rugby Unio sets forth the reasons why Englan lui.s refused to change the date for a earlier one.

, “I ottr letter was discussed by a snbi t’omittee having charge of the ar- ■ rniigemcnt.s for the tour,” he said, i ■’"••I while they could probably have ro-aranged the fixtures, they were overruled bv the committee, and particularly the team eomittee, who had fixed January 3 for votir match ns the only • hue when England could get her full strength. The vital reasons are that the selection committee .can never try all the available men until after the university teams tin* over. As a rule we play three trial matches before .‘■.electing an English lea in—England v. North England, North England v. South England, and Smith England v. 'I lie Rest, the hist match of which always on the first Saturday of January, which in the coming season is given to your match. Ho for that reason we shall only he able to play two finals, one in the middle of December and one towards the end. The real dillieulty lies in your team coming so early in the season ; they will arrive before any of the counties and many of our clubs have played ; so that teams must he selpeeted from last season’s form. Our country matches do not begin until October.” The chairman, Mr Dean, said it was

a pity to think that the test match was the last in the lour, he was sorry the date could not, he altered, but the New Zealand union had done all that was possible.