FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 75, 7 July 1910, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

•RETURN OF THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. The New Zealand representative Rugby team returned to Wellington by the Moana from Sydney to-day. The men are in excellent health. Budd (South) Canterbury) remained ia Sydney, and Wilson (Auckland) travelled bv a direct boat. ' 1 The team was welcomed by the Management Committee of the New Zealand ■Rugby Union at the New Zealander Hotel, Mr. Cj. F. Campbell (vice-presi-dent of the Union) extended a'welcome' on behalf of the governing body. He congratulated the manager (Mr., Meredith) and his men on their good record and exemplary conduct. They would surely not grudj-e the Australians the ' win they achieved. Mr. Campbell re- ,s ferred briefly to the professional aspect of the game. Every sport, was subject to change, and if such change came about let it arrive in its amateur form. In reply, Mr, Meredith, touching on the professional question, said no doubt it had made great inroads on the game in Australia, but there was an opinion prevalent among those followers of the game and players (Rugby) themselves that it did not attract the understanding football public. Rather it drew that ' pleasure-loving class who go out on Saturday afternoon for amusement and recreation, not true supporters of football Again, it was a pretty general opinion (anl his own) that there was no comparison between the Northern Union and the old game as a game. He considered the new rules recently introduced into Rugby did not make for better football. WELLINGTON REP. FIXTURES. Wellington, Last Night. The Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Unipn to-night fixed the following dates for the Wellington rep., matches for the season:—August 20, against Auckland, «t Auckland; | August 25, against Taranaki, at New Plymouth; August 27, against Wanga,nui, at Wanganui; September 3, against Southland, at Wellington; September 10, against Otago, at Wellington; September 17, against Canterbury, at Wellington. The Union decided that it could not see its way to play South Auckland or Manawatu reps, on the northern tour. Tt is to be suggested to Marlborough I Union that its representatives play Wei- • limgton here on x\ugust 27, and that Weij linirton B (onm proceed to Blenheim on I either the 3rd, 10th or 17th! September. J August 20 is to be suggested to Wai- ■ rarapa Union as a suitable date for it* representative team to play the B team at Wellington. A request by the Nelson Union for a visit from the Wellington reps, was not acceded to, Wellinjgton Union's representative engagements | being too numerous. | ='