RUGBY UNION'S MANAGEMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10695, 16 August 1912, Page 5

RUGBY UNION'S MANAGEMENT.

(To the Editor Wairarapa Age.) Sir,—A number of articles appeared recently in your journal in reference to tlie status of football in tlie Wairarapa, and the doings of the Wairarapa Rugby Union. As a player I might mention that the lot of the footballer in this district, is not such as to make him an enviable person to the members of outside clubs, and at times the conditions are such as to damp the spirit of the most enthusiastic llugbyite. To begin with, there were no less than six teams competing in this year's senior championship, thus entailing a great deal of travelling, and often in mid-season games have been finished in semi-darkness, owing to the travelling teams being unable to reach their destinations in time to enable the games to be finished in daylight. ' Again, the accommodation in at least one locality is anything but desirable, tlie players having no place in which to bosnort themselves after the match, and this especially on a : rainy dav. is not a very desirable : ;; l ate of affairs-* I would sliggost that the authorities I divide the district into two areas, 1 north and south—and then lot tlie winning teams of each area play off for championship honours. Of course, this plan could only be adopted when there are sufficient teams competing—three to each area. Per- ' haps the biggest farce of the year has beeu the postponement of the championship fixtures for the sake oi a minor roorescotfitive match, which might easilv have been left until later in the season, and then failing a suitable date cancelled for tne year. Is it not possible for the selectors to pick a representative team without the North v. South fixture, if such should necessitate the postponement' of championship fixtures? How do they manage to select a North or South Island representative team, and what would happen if the Wellington' Union postponed its club fixtures for a month in order-to select a "rep" team and play one or two minor matches with, say, Wairarapa and Bush? It is the duty of every centre to first finish club fixtures and then attend to representative matches. The Greytown team ha.s already withdrawn from the competitions, and I verv much doubt if any of the other clubs," excepting Carterton, will be j able to now place a strong team m the field, and even should the unexpected happen, the result is a foregone conclusion, as Carterton will be able to place a much stronger team in the field than, any other club, due to six members of that club being representatives. Consequently, they will be in better form. T think my remarks will be endorsed by the majority. of local players, and until the authorities of the Wairarapa Rugby Union learn to conduct affairs a ; s they should do, the football in this district must deteriorate. Thanking von, Mr Editor, lor allowing space* in your journal for this article. —I am, etc.. M. B. IGGULREN. Masterton, August 14th, 1912.