ENGLISH TEAM MAY COME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 9

ENGLISH TEAM MAY COME

RUGBY TOUR OF N.Z. DIVIDED CONTROL BOARD By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. LONDON. Wednesday. It is understood that the majority decision of the International Rugby Board not to send a team to New Zealand in 1930 is not likely to prevent a team going. If the English Union is unable, in the meantime, to persuade the other three unions to co-operate with it, it is likely that it will send a purely English team to the Dominion. “We do not know what underlies the opposition of the Scottish Union,” said one authority. “It cannot definitely be said whether that union is trying to abolish international tours, but certainly it is not sympathetic toward them. The Irish Union supports the Scottish attitude, thus the board is divided. “One section believes that tours should be encouraged in the interests of Empire sentiment, as well as in the interests of sport. The other section stubbornly ; opposes such tours.” It is stated that the board declined the New Zealand invitation after making a careful estimate of the playing strength in 1930. It concluded that, although there would be no shortage of moneyed players anxious to make the trip, there would not be sufficient moneyed players with the football experience and ability to make them capable of upholding British Rugby prestige. On the other hand the “Evening Standard” says it is all very unfortunate, and it looks like a deliberate rebuff to the excellent sportsmen in the Dominions. The excuse does not appear sincere, though there will always be a good deal of truth in the statement that it is difficult to find a team, unless some of the members of the International Board moderate their ultra-conservative views.— A. and N.Z.-Sun.