DOMINION RUGBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 14

DOMINION RUGBY

MOVE FOR RECOGNITION LACK OF REPRESENTATION ENGLISH CONSERVATISM The question of independent representation on the International Rugby Board was discussed at the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby Union last evening. Mr. A. St. Clair Belcher pointed out that whereas the. English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Unions all had independent representation, the New Zealand, New South Wales and South African Unions had representation only through the English Union, to which they were affiiliated. The only New Zealand protest he had noticed to this unsatisfactory state of affairs had come through Christchurch. The whole of the Dominion, as one of the greatest Rugby powers in the world, and Auckland, as the leading centre, should join in an outcry against what was manifestly an injustice He moved that the question of the admission of the New Zealand Rugby Union to the International Board, as a separate entity, be considered at the annual meeting of delegates to the Dominion body. In the opinion of Mr. E. Casey, the New Zealand Union was fully alive to the position, but hitherto failed in its efforts to improve it. The trouble was, he considered, that the democratic spirit of the age was not abroad in the world of Rugby. Although New Zealand held a high place in the game internationally, it had inadequate representation.- He agreed that further efforts should be made. Condemning the convervatism which existed in some of the Home Rugby circles, Mr. F. J. Olilson instanced the manner in which lack of Dominion representation on the Board had curtailed some world tours. He was of the opinion that the views of thee Press would eventually effect the admission of the Dominion to the International Board The motion was carried.