Rugby In U.S.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

Rugby In U.S.A.

Obstacles to Introduction of the Game. Recently a Cambridge University team of Rugby players visited U.S.A. and played a series of exhibition games. Commenting on the game the "Chicago Tribune" writer says: — Rugby football, as shown in Chicago by the* Cambridge University Vandals, i-s an interesting sport to watch. It is unfair to compare it disparagingly with our own intercollegiate football, because most of us do not understand its fine points and its strategy, therefore are not able to appreciate its possibilities.

When something new in sports is offered it is the vogue to belittle that sport and to show how inferior it is to those amusements we know. We do not feel that way about Rugby, although we see no particular reason why it should bo adopted here, and several reasons why it will not, of which more anon.

Tho open character of Rugby appeals. Perhaps the most outstanding feature is that possession of the ball does not mean as much and therefore is not so zealously guarded as in our own game. Play is looser, less precise. The result is more passing and more open field running. Tho trend in intercollegiate football, however, has been that way for the last two decades.

Methods of putting the ball in play appear haphazard to us. Perhaps they are not, because we are told great skill is involved in obtaining the ball in a scrum by the players known as hookers. Frequent kicking with either right or left foot by players while on the run intrigues. It slso looks haphazard, but possibly is not. Our reaction, on the whole, was favourable, although we needed an "interpreter" to explain the penalties. Our reason for thinking Rugby will make no headway in this country is because American football is so well grounded. Any switch would meet the united opposition of coaches, whose knowledge is of our own game. It would take tho public at large several years to learn Rugby rules. Again, it would be necessary for a whole conference or sectional group of colleges to take up Rugby at the same time or there would be lack of competition. If we remember rightly, Stanford and California adopted Rugby back in the reform days of about 1905-06 and played against each other annually. Other colleges on the coast did not follow suit. Soon Rugby was dropped for intercollegiate football to give Stanford and California competition with rivals they wished to meet.