FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7769, 24 January 1891, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION,

The Canterbury Rugby Union met at Warner's hotel. last evening:, Dr. Moorhouse, in the chair., There was a f nil att- ndance. The meeting was called to discuss certain suggestions made by Mr E. D. Hoben, the Secretary of the Hawke'a Bay Rugby Union, who w*s present, in respect or the formation of a New Zealand Rugby Union, and the regulation of interprovincial fixtures. Mr Hoben said that it had been evident; for some little time that a central governing body, which couid regulate interprovincial fixtures, treat of all ' questions of disqualification of players, and take charge of any project in reference to the sending away of a New Zealand team on the reception of foreign tearasi should be formed. It was also imSortant that some more systematic and efinite method should be arrived at in reference to the visits of travelling representative teams. He had suggested to the Auckland Union that it should be arranged that each of the provincial teams should play one yeat on its own ground, tour one island the following year, remain at home the third year, and tour the other island during the fourth— thus playing one year on and the next off its own ground, playing in every chief town once in four years and meeting each leading team every second year. This would enable Unions to know exactly what they had ahead in each season and to arrange their finances and fixtures accordingly, and: would prevent what had happened before when one year nearly all the Unions would travel and the next there would be no outside matches at all. Considerable discussion followed, Messrs Harris and Garrard fearing that the formation of a New Zealand Union would mean severance; from the English Unions and the ultimate adoption of different rules. The Chairman, and Messrs* Lβ win, West, Kesteven, and Hoben held that ifc would on the contrary lead to greater uniformity, while there were various matters of importance to football which would come within the legitimate province of & New Zealand Union consisting of delegates from the existing Unions. The scheme for the regulation of Interprovlncial matches was also £ fully gone i into, and it was resolved that the meeting i thank Mr Hoben for his suggestions, and j express theirapproval and supporfcof them. Mr Hoben will interview the Otago Union shortly, and also the Wellington Union oa his way back to fcapier. ~ i