THAMES RUGBY UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4981, 31 May 1926, Page 3

THAMES RUGBY UNION.

Sir,—The attention of, my union has been drawn to the report of the meeting ofc .the Thames Valley Rugby Union published in your issue of the 21st inst., in which an attack was made on the Thames Rugby Union. Strong exception is taken to the statements made, < and while the Thames Union do not wish to enter into a controversy as to the merits or demerits of holding and challenging for the Birch Cup and Pqace Cup, or to make a comparison of such . trophies with the Poland Memorial Cup, they certainly wisn to emphatically protest against the statements “tha,t challenging unions, affiliated to the . Thames Valley Rugby Union received no match in return,” “that the Thames Rugby Union lived on such matches” ; and above all to protest against the deliberate falsehood "that the treatment of players and officials while in Thames was not characterised by its generosity.” Dealing with the first statement, we beg to point out that the Thames Union gave every assistance to the ' Waihi Rugby Union to give it a start after the war, and, furthermore, have sent teams to Waihi annually since the said union recommenced to’'function. Last year a grant of £lO was made to Waihi towards their expenses in travelling to contest the Peace Cup. Commencing in the year 1924, home and home matches have been played with the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union —both senior and junior grades—while last year the Piakb Rugby Union asked for a match at • Te Aroha, in reply to which request a a junior and a senior tea,m were sent ?T. <m June; 3. Towards the end of . the - season the Paeroa Union asked for matches to be arranged, but on acU count of Thames winning the Peace Cup the request could not be; acceded

to. However, Thames representative teams visited Paeroa. on Saturday. Thames will also play Piako at Te Aroha on June 3, Plains on October 2 (tentative), and the date of a match with Waihi is yet to be fixed. What more is required by the Thames Valley Rugby Union ? The second statement needs little comment, as the Thames Union was a flourishing body before it ever held the Peace Cup or Birch Cup. Lastly, the; statement of inhospitable treatment df players a,nd officials by the Thames Union is nothing more than the creation of a vivid imagination, and one which reflects; little credit on the author. Letters from the affiliated unions of the Thames Valley Rugby Union can be produced whereby thanks are accorded for z their courteous and hearty welcome. have been entertained to dinner, conveyed to and from the ground, ’ and in cases of hurried departure by train light refreshment has been pro-

vided at the railway station. Does the Thames Valley Rugby Union consider this inhospitable treatment ? In the opinion <lf the Thames Rugby Union the discuussion is permeated throughout, with petty jealousy and spite, and is a plain a.tt'eimpt to' upset the harmonious relations existing between the affiliated unions of the Thames Valley Rugby Union and this union. R. M. RHODES* Chairman, T.R.U.