LEFT IN THE LURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 182, 3 August 1929, Page 12

LEFT IN THE LURCH.

RUGBY PLAYER'S GRIEVANCE. CLUB DEMAND INQUIRY. SATHERLEY AND SCHNAUER. The Auckland Grammar Rugby Club have decided to demand from the Auckland Rugby Union an inquiry and explanation why one of their best-known players, Roy Schnauer, was not- included in the Auckland B representative team which played the Thames Valley representatives at Paeroa this afternoon. Included in the Auckland team which went to Paeroa this morning was C. Satherley, who was elected captain of the Manukau team after the announcement that the former captain, Falwasser, the native player intended to join a. professional club in England. When the Auckland B team was selected to go to Paeroa Satherley was not included, arid Roy Schnauer was an emergency. Dyring the week a mild storm arose in Rugby circles owing to the report that Satherley. had signed up with the Marist League team. The next step was- his inclusion in the Auckland B rep. touring team, when one of the selected players, Linton, intimated that he was unable to make the trip, to the exclusion of Schnauer, a selected reserve. The latter was informed shortly before the Auckland team left that he could be taken, but he refused to go, and with a feeling of grievance appealed to his club to take the matter up. "I am disgusted with the way I have been treated by the Auckland Rugby Union," said Roy Schnauer this morning. "I was picked as,, first emergency and was informed of this at the training shed on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday last I happened to meet Satherley, who was looking for the Rugby Union office. The latter said that it was no good to him not being selected to play in the reps.,, and that lie was going to protest. Satherley also told me that lie had signed up with the Marist League Club. , . "It is not the first time," added Schnauer, "that I have been treated badly, although I have been very loyal to .the Rugby game. On a previous occasion I was picked as an emergency and left in the lurch at the last minute. I have written a letter to the Grammar Old Boys' Club strongly protesting against the treatmnet I have received. I was asked to go with the team to-day, but in view of what I know and what has occurred, I refused their invitation."

One of the officials of the Auckland Grammar Old Boys' Club stated this morning that they intended to stand by Schnauer. The latter's letter had been sent on to the Auckland Rugby Union with a request for an immediate inquiry and explanation.