"DINNER DRESS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 247, 19 October 1933, Page 24

"DINNER DRESS."

AT RUGBY WELCOME. A SYDNEY MISTAKE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)* SYDNEY, October 12. The Wallabies have now reached home ports, and by the time they got to Adelaide, assiduous interviewing had enabled the newspapers here to anticipate a good deal of what they have to tell us. The most interesting comment yet published was made by Malcolm, the famous half-back, and vice-captain of the team. Like the manager, Dr. Matthews, he thought that the team had done well under the circumstances and had learned a great deal about football. "Every match was a Test match," said Malcolm, "as far as the quality and standard of the play were concerned. He was evidently much impressed by the splendid organisation of Rugby in South Africa, and he frankly admits that the Australians had a good many lessons to learn from their opponents. "We found," he said, among- other things, "that our scrummaging methods were all wrong. So instead of the customary way of packing down we were forced to use the African method of 3—4 —l; and this held th© opposition admirably." It is to be hoped that this contribution to the already extensive literature of the "scrum" will be duly appreciated by all "Rugger" enthusiasts in New Zealand as well as Australia. The Wallabies are due to reach Sydney this coming Friday and are to be entertained at a welcome home dinner on Saturday evening. But T regret to say that trouble has arisen in advance over this function. The price of tickets is 1.")/, and there is a curt intimation, "dinner dress," inscribed upon them. Obviously such a charge is far beyond the resources of the rank and file of Rugby supporters and many members of the council and players in senior grade teams have already stated that they cannot come, because they cannot afford it. The invitation circular informs "relatives and friends" of the Wallabies that they will be welcome —at the price—and this notice, alonsr with the imperative reference to "dinner dress." has been widely interpreted as an indication that only comparatively wealthy or socially eligible people are expected to attend this exclusive function. No doubt there was no intention of conveying this impression. But —especially considering the keen competition which the union has to face here, and the popularity of the League game—it is most unfortui ate that anything should have happened to suggest that, the R.U. game is not organised on "democratic" lines, and that the "brass hat" section of the officials do not much care whether it secures public support or not.