FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 74, 31 March 1904, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

A PKOJECTEIJ ENGLISH VISIT, (Per Press Association.) SYDNEY, March 29. The Kugby Union has been advised that a strong English football team is being got together to visit Australia (luring the coming season. The tour will corncommence at Sydney on June 22. Arrangements are being made to proceed to Sew Zealand after visiting Brisbane. It is proposed to bring a New Zealand team to Sydney to play the Englishmen after the latter have liuished the New Zealand tour. NEW ZEALAND UNION, WELLINGTON, March 30, The annual balance-sheet of the New Zealand Kugby Union shows total receipts £903, and expenditure (including the Australian team) £671, leaving a credit balance of £292. The assets show £302 in excess of liabilities.

SELECTION* OF TEAMS. WELLINGTON, March 30. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union to-night it was decided to change the method of selecting teams from one selector to three. It was decided to accede to the request of the New Zealand Union for tt guarantee of £IOO (plus a sum of £loo extra by debentures to be placed amongst tiro public) towards the expenses of sending to England a representative team of New Zealand players. It was also resolved that steps be taken to resuscitate games between the Ilawke's Boy and Wellington Kugby Unions.

At the i)niiiiul 'meeting of the Wanganui Itugby Union the report and balance-sheet showed that llio year had been very successful. Mr W. Empson was elected patron, Mr G. Bpriggons president. Mr W. Hall secretary, and Mr A. Montfort treasurer. Messrs J. Hyams and P. Beamish wore appointed delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Th« Union proposes sending a toain through the South Island during Ihe coming season. From the Bulletin Australia Is threatened with an invasion of Rugby footballers from British Columbia. Judging by our past showing Against llaoriland, we won't make B decent breakfast for the Columirfons on this side ; but a match between them and the Maorilanders ought to Ite a sight for the Gods. The Columbians play nmid the snow, and there have been cases where the ball has cracked and had hunks kicked out of it through being frozen hard while the game was in progress. The average liritish Colum- _ frran is about Oft :iin high, brood In proportion, und fitted with a kicking apparatus which puts a mule to ihe blush. One of the most terrific Contests imaginable would be a ftn&tch between 1 In' Columbians and the Bayly family of Tarunaki (Maoriland). The Jia.vlys can put a fifteen of their own in the field, and the baby of the crowd is sft Ujin in bis socks, and lias vn known to put a goal against the wja.j fnm , the half-way mark. To relpte the heights ami <loii ws , he ,: est of th( . family would 1,,- to bring the veracity o, the Bulletin im,, question."