FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3170, 22 April 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

A well-informed correspondent, who is familiar with the motives and intentions of the Scottish Union, writes to the Pall Mall Gazette:— "The resulution of the Scottish Committee expressly mentioned the payments made to the, New Zealanders, and is thus retrospective and specific, whereas the acceptance of the offer by the Rugby Union in their letter of February 18th ignores the condition, and does not make any mention of the New Zealanders. As the Scots regard the admission requested as a condition precedent to their consenting to play the match, we have the deadlock. The Rugby Union has therefore now to decide between a 'renewal of friendly relations with the Scottish Union and of matches with Scotland and a rupture with New Zealand. As the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union adopted a defiant tone at their last meeting," he continues, "and there was much talking of 'cutting the painter,' and declaring the union independent of the Rugby Union; as in addition the council made several drastic changes in the rules, which are to come into force during the coming New Zealand season, whether approved or otherwise by the parent union (for the New Zealand Union is affiliated to, and under the jurisdiction of, the Rugby Union), and is in precisely the same position as a county union; finally, as a proposal to legalise payment for 'broken time' was just lost, and the adoption of professionalism was openly advocated and largely supported at the meeting, it is clear that a rupture with New Zealand is likely to occur in the near future. In view of these facts and the avowed change that has come over the views of the committee on the subject of colonial tours, it will be a matter for surprise if the Rugby Union do not pass the resolution requested, by the Scottish Union. The moment this is done there will be peace; until it is done England and Scotland will not meet." Mr V. G. Thew, the captain of the,, Cambridge University Association team, is arranging to take a team of past and present Cambridge blues to South America. They will probably leave England in July, and will make Buenos Ayres their centre. At the present the fixture list is not complete, but probably JO or 12 matches will be played.