FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 253, 23 October 1909, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

Coach J. C. Schaeffer has the California University team playing the seven_ pack and a wing forward, after the New Zealanders. It is a pity (says an exchange) Rugby Union football throughout the world could not play only 14 aside with a standard seven pack and no wing forward. In commenting on the recent secession of a number of the Wallabies from the amateur ranks, the "Athletic News" says:—"Not much regret, however, will be felt over the receipt of the intelligence by the keen Rugby people of this country. There were among our guests of last winter some good sportsmen. There were others who were nothing of the sort. They were referred to from time to time in the columns of the "Athletic News," in which journal it was distinctly stated that the game would be well rid of them. Without being so clever, they had acquired many of the worst features of the Xew Zealanders' methods, and there was lacking the straightforward tactics which had so endeared the South Africans to us. If the worst dozen have gone out of the sport, the lovers of Rugby Union football in Australia can congratulate themselves on the fact. At the same time, the Antipodean authorities are going to be confronted with a hard task. If they are firm they tan overcome the difficulties; if they are not, then is the League going to prove a greater power than they were given the credit for.

W. Trevarthen, the well-known Auckland forward, has signed on for Huddersfield.

It was rather singular that the news of the bother at Sydney should have arrived merely a day or two after the decision of the Welsh Rugby Football Union declining to send a side to New South Wales next year. Of course, it was only a mntter of courtesy that the matter should l>e discussed, but there was simply no chance of the Colonial invitation being accepted by the Welshmen. Unless there be a prayer from Sydney to the effect that the very existence of amateurism in the Commonwealth depends upon a visit from a strong British team, no side from this country is likely to visit Australia for some time.—Sydney exchange.

The coming of Harold Rove during the ■week caused a flutter in the circles of the leading clubs who were anxious to secure the services of the famous "All Black " (Fays an English writer). I had expectations that the wealth of Wigan would prevail, and, though disappointment will be felt at Central Park, I may say that the fault cannot be attributed to the energetic secretary of the club. All the preliminaries had apparently been arranged, the agreement was ready for signing, and the cheque was ready for Rowe's acceptance and a completion of the bargain. The colonial, however, thought of the future, and in accepting the Leeds offer, which carried with it more than mere football pay, Rowe has shown his good sense.