RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6, 7 January 1908, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PEOFESSIONALISM V. AMATEUK- ...... .. ISM. GROWTH OF MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. The growth of the professional movement ia Australian and New Zia.la.nd football circles was emphasised to a "Star" representative this morning by Mr. T. J. O'Farrell, wJio i≤ closely identified with the movement in Australia, and is at present on a visi; to Aucslaud. In New South Wales the movement has obtained a very strong fooDing, according to Mr. O'Farrell. Ten senior clubs have been formed iv Sydney i against 11 senior amateur clubs, and splendid grounds have been secured for next season. The professional players will adopt the English Northern Union rules, and also the .Northern Union style of play. The New South Wales professionals will thus be thoroughly educated in the intricacies of the 13 men aside gaone, and will be better equipped, after a season's play, to meet the .English professionals when they leave for the Old Country in August next. The New South Welshmen, added Mr. O'Farrell. will thus have a better opportunity of settling to the Northern Union game than the present New Zealand "Ail Blacks" had. "Has your visit to Auckland any significance with regard to the propagation of the professional movement?"' Mr. O'Farrell was asked. "I have interviewed some of your leading New Zealand players,"' was the reply, "and there is not the slightest doubt that professionalism has come to stay. Unfortunately, there exists a drawback in the fact that the A-R.U. has monopolised the best of the grounds, but you will find that the growth of the professional element is not to be deterred. The "All Blacks,"' on their return, will give fresh life to the movement, and in Auckland it vrill be worked for all it is jvorth. Inter-colonial matches will be played, and /ext season we hope to have a visit to Sydney of a New Zealand professional team." Mr. O'Farrell was referee in the big match in Sydney between the New Zealand professional "All Blacks" and the Australians. The "All Blacks" who participated in tha-t ma-tch. he considers, were a far better combination of men than those included' in the amateur "Al! Blacks" which toured the Commonwealth a month previously. E. Wynyard, in Mr. O'FarrelTs opinion is the best half-back he has ever seen, while he thinks Turtill is equally as good as Wallace as full back. Messenger, he say;, is absolutely the best three-quarter Australia has produced, and provided he is allowed to play his own game, is worth two men on the three-quarter line. Those who have been identified with professional sport of any kind in NewSouth Wales, according to Mr, O'Farrell. are to be white-washed by the amateur R.U., in the hope of securing their return to the ranks of amateurism, but, in the professional referee's opinion, the movement is too firmly established to suffeT any withdrawals. The rolls show that there are 195 seaior players in the professional ranks, and these, he adds, include the cream of Australian footballers. They are all young players, and no "has-beens"' are included. Players like Mandible, Woods and McEvatt are net expected to ever leave the amateur game, but the players of the future are to emerge from the professional ranks. Ninety per cent, of the paying public, adds Mr. O'FarTell. are in sympathy with the movement, and once it is securely established in New Zealand, and there is an inter-change of colonial matches, the professional game, under Northern Union rules will supplant the amateur game. TJie team to visit England next August, concluded Mr. O'Farrell, will include' 20 New South Welshmen.' six Now Zeakinders. and several Queenilanders.