Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 277, 21 October 1905, Page 19

Rugby Football.

The New Zealand team still continue their successful tour at Home. Amd it is amusmg to hear the comments from our kindred across the eea who ha/ye joaned us in making a home m our island colony. First, we were told that the New Zealanders would only win a few of their matches — they would find the players in the Mother Country too clever for them. So great an authority as C. B. Fry. in has magazine, said it was unfair on the part of the English Rugby Union to pit the New Zealamdens against a strong county team like Devon within a week after they had landed from a six-weeks' sea trip. The conclusion to be drawn from Fry's remarks is very evident. Then, when the overwhelming defeat of Devon was received 1 , we were told the Home team was caught on the hop, and hiaid not had any practice before the game. The London.' "Sportsman" is the authority for the statement that the Swansea Olub commenced 1 training in the middle of August. And' if the Swansea Club, why not the others? An "Athletic News," dated 21st August, has the following: — "In all but actual warfare the football season has

commenced*. Most of the clubs (have paraded before their supporters in practice games, and, within a fortnight, the season will be opened." These two clippings will dispense with the shortness of practice. We were next told!, "Wait till they get to the North of England?" Wellj we have waited, and. we have found) thfe Durham County team I—champions1 — champions three times out of the last four years — defeated on a wet ground 1 by 16 points to 3. And, tihat not being enough, the best club team in the champion county hias bean defeated by 63 points to nil. What is loft? "Wait toll they get to Wales and Ireland?" We will wait, but, if appearances go for 'anything, something sensational will have to happen before the New Zealand team's colours are lowered. The tomr so far has been a success beyond! even the anr ticapations of tihe most optimistical supporter of the game in the cottony, amid has warranted the New Zealand Union in sending them forth to advertise the prowess of out players in the good old! Rugby game of football. • * # The meeting of the Rugby Union, to consider the district scheme will beihedd next week. "Mot" Welch, the whole-souled: supporter and captain of t!be Kia ora dulb, at the Lower Hutt, announces his inh tention of seeking a seat on the Huitb County Council. Maurice is an earth usiast, and if the Hutt people want a live man at their Council table they • could mot do better than put hi™ there, I wish him luck, any way. Harold Judd, the Australian footballer, has named his residence in Sydney "Kaiwarra." A Maori" linguist informs me that the Wellington suburb of that name was so called! because in the early days there used to grow there in large quantities a vine vrhiohj bore a red berry which was good for food, and much appreciated by tb© natives. The original name was << Kaiwharawhara" "wharawhara" was the name given —the "Kai" signifying food, and the berry by tEe Maoris. (Contmved on page 20.)