RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

IMPROVED FORWARD PLAY URGED

“FOUNDATION OF THE GAME”

(PRESS association telegbam.)

DUNEDIN, March 22

“Forward play is the foundation of the game, and we have got to get back to fundamentals,” said Mr V. G. Cavanagh, in a criticism of New Zealand Rugby at the annual meeting of the Southern Football Club last night. Mr Cavanagh said that New Zealand’s forward play in recent years had been modelled too much on League tactics, and the principles of real forward play had been forgotten.

“I sympathise with Otago’s representative in the New Zealand team last year,” he said. “If the All Black forwards had played with a knowledge of the technique of the Otago pack which Jack Here led two years ago, the halfback anid five-eighths would have had a fair chance. The team would have been immeasurably better and the Springboks would not have won.”

RUGBY LEAGUE

PLAYER-COACH FOR CANTERBURY

APPOINTMENT OF RAY BROWN

Ray Brown, who has recently returned from England, has been appointed player-coach by the Canterbury Rugby League, the engagement being for three seasons. • Well known among Canterbury footballers. Brown

formerly played for the Sydenham Rugby Union Club, and represented Canterbury both as a wing three-quar-ters and centre. Accepting a professional engagement, Brown left two years ago and played in the Northern Union for the Barrow Club, which is high up on the championship table. F. T. J. French, another Sydenham player, is full-back for the same club.

G. Nepia, who played some games in Christchurch last season, will in all probability play for the newly-formed Rakaia Club this year, the centre making the arrangements. Rakaia will also have C. H. Davison, a New Zealand representative of last season.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S AUSTRALIAN TOUR

TWO SUNDAY MATCHES WANTED

UINITETt PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) SYDNEY, March 22.

The Country Rugby League wants two Sunday matches against the New Zealand team this season, one at Wollongong and the other at Goulburn.

A suggested itinerary for the visit of the’New Zealanders, which was submitted by the Country League to the New South Wales Rugby League, was referred to the management committee. .

It is recommended that the New Zealand team be asked to leave Auckland on June 11, and remain in Australia until July 30, playing a match at Newcastle on the latter date. It is stated that the team could depart from Sydney either by the Niagara on August 4, or by the Wanganella on July 30. The sailing of the Wanganella could be delayed to permit the New Zealanders making a rush trip back from Newcastle,