RUGBY FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1903, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PROPOSED TEAM FOR ENGLAND.

(By Telegraph.—Own- Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. '

Some correspondence is said to have passed between the Agent-General and the English. Rugby Union relative to' p_ Xew Zealand representative Rugby team visiting Great Britain, and is now engaging the individual attention of mem-

bers of the Managing Committee of the colonial body, the majority of whom, I believe, recommend that the proposed tour be postponed till after the season 1904-5. in accordance with the suggestion of the English authorities, and that a cable, message be sent to this effect' to Mr Rowland Hill. It is understood that the English International Board meet on March 21st, so that in the event of the colonial Union desiring to arranga fixtures for September of next year the. matter could come before the board, ) while it is proposed to invite the co-oper-ation of the English, Irish and Scottish Unions in endeavouring to make tk. tour a success. From what I hear tha English Union does not consider it necessary to bring twenty five players, but the colonial authorities are not likely to send less, ft would be fatal to the chances of our men were, a smaller number than twenty-five to make the journey. Another question asked by the English Union is as to whether more than four matches —say. five—could he played in a fortnight. Doubtless, our men would find four quite sufficient long ere their tour came to an end, as we have already been told through your London correspondent. The expense^ ofthe Now Zealanders is roughly assessed by the English authorities at about £2000. Mr W. P. Reeves, the AgentGeneral, and Mr Rowland Hill have had, so it is said, a number of interviews ort the subject of the team going Home, and the latter appears to be doing everything in his power to help the project along, arid by all accounts Mr Beeves is doing his best willingly in promoting the venture.