RUGBY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 18

RUGBY LEAGUE.

RECIPROCITY WITH NEW ZEALAND. NEPIA RUMOURS. (7*ol£ ova. 0«K COMMPOHDMT.) LONDON, October 7. At a meeting of the Rugby League Council at Vigan, the subject of negotiations with members oi the All Blacks wa» letrrrod. to. This appeals to be '.he first occasion on which the matter hae been mentioned cflicially, in Fpita of the many columns already published. A new lignt (says the "Yorkßh-ire Post") *as thrown upon ths situation which has arisen through the inviting of New Zealand Kugby Union players—members of last" season's "All Bluaka" combination in particular—to join Kugby ijeag-ue clube in ! Yorkshire and Lancashire. The secretary | {Mr John Wilson) reported that, followins upon the passage of cablegrams between the two bodits, the New Zealand Rugby League have now agreed to a veciptoea: arrangement under which English and New Zealand pla/era transferred frcm one country to the other cap only qua.ify to play by a twoyears' residence. Hilhezto an agreement to that (Sect hj« only applied aa between tbe liujjby Jjdagfues of England and Australia. In the absence cf any such agreement between. tbe Busby League authorities of this country and New Zealand, it hM recently been pceeible for tho Hull Club to enter into negotiations with Nejiia, tbe brilliant lliori full-back of the last New Zealand Rugby Union touring team. Negotiation* With Kepift. The Hall Club were safeguarded in thoee negotiation* by hating the New Zeeiand Rugby League's permission to approach Xepia. Since publicity was given to the matter, other Rsgby League clube, notably l<eeds and Wigan, have had «mimunication> with New Zealand player*. One effect of the Huli-Nspia transaction has bee;> to taring Ru*bv Leas-ue authorities of England and New' Zealand into touch with each other on the question of tnm»ieia. The result, as ww made known at the nlteetine, ja that the New Zealand Rugby league have ofcbled agreement to the two-yean' residential qualification to apply as between England and New Zealand, j?*t as between England and Australia. This agreement will in no wiae affect Nepia's position with HuIL The Hull Club'a approach to Heaia, with the aanotita ot the New Zealand Rugbr League, was roade be- | forre the «g7<«mtni. Accordingly if tlxwy to coast) to Sail, he nay p!«y at the Boulevard directly np» hie arrival.