“BRING THEM BACK BY FIRST BOAT.”

Shannon News, 31 December 1926, Page 2

“BRING THEM BACK BY FIRST BOAT.”

LEAGUE TEAM’S SQUABBLES. AUCKLAND, Dec. 27. A letter to the Press on the Rugby League fiasco asks: ‘ ‘ Why is the New Zealand Rugby League so strangely silent in regard to the lamentable behaviour of its representatives in England, who are besmirching the Dominion's football honour, built up so strongly by real All Black Rugby teams. So much is heard about Messrs Mair and Ponder and the band of malcontent forwards, who among them have well and truly wrecked the present tour, that many people are asking why the New Zealand Rugby League does: not shoulder its responsibilities. The League sent this second-rate team abroad, and it is surely its duty to give, it a decent burial. Bring the players back by the" first boat for Heaven's sake, and let’s forget th'em. They’re not worth worry ing about further. ” / / ■

Writing on November 18, the London correspondent of the “Star” said: “It is now known that the unfortunate quarrel in the ranks of the New Zealand Rugby League team was settled only by the timely intervention ,of the authorities in this country. The position had become so serious that it seemed likely that the tour would come to a summary end. In these circumstances i ables were sent to New Zealand, explaining the situatiori, and it was :is a result of the replies received that English League representatives went to Harrogate, the headquarters of the tourists, and had a long conference with the players and managsrs. The seve.r men who had refused to train, or take part in the matches, complained of the attitude Mr E. 11. Mair had adopted, and it was only when the latter agree r to retire temporarily from his official position that a settlement was arrived at. It has been a bad business for all concerned. The tour cannot now be as successful as was anticipated, and how uncertain the position still is is indicated by the fact that the English authorities have decided to postpone all arrangements which were being made for matches between the tourists'and an English representative team to take place in London and Paris. Most of the seven, men who rebelled were forwards, and it was not possible in these circumstances to do themselves justice on fihe field. They played the second of the three test matches last week-end, and, inasmuch as they -were defeated fer the second time, a lot of the interest has been knocked out of the final game.”