Rugby Football

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30152, 8 June 1963, Page 3

Rugby Football

Sir,—lt is sad that the Canterbury Rugby Union did not support the Christchurch club in its protest against the New Zealand union’s policy on club towre overseas and interference in club’s finances. All these young men ask is to make a tour at a time suitable to themselves and to play Rugby in Australia for tun and pleasure and enjoy a playing holiday. Surely, with the thousands and thousands of Rugby players in New Zealand. the game would not be disrupted if a few dozen go off on a tour, even if it was in mid-season. They did not need financial help; they are not looking for fame. They just want to enjoy the game of Rugby and make friend* in Australia, and to fulfil one of the main basic reasons tor the existence of Rugby Instead of being encouraged they are hindered by responsible authority—Yours, ete., DONALD DOBSON. June 6, 1963.

Sir,—Poor old England! fri yesterday's issue was a Large headline. “Fifth Successive Defeat,” referring to Australia's victory over the touring English Rugby side; and next door to this was a statement by the chairman of the Canterbury Rugby Union extolling the meritf of Lancaster Park, in which he said, “We can do things at the park that they cannot do at Twickenham” What* ever exactly may be meant by that rather oracular pro* nouncemenit, let us hope that one thing will be done at Twickenham that failed, but only just, to happen at Lan* caster Park —the defeat oi the AU Blacks by an Eng* lish side more closely representative of the elite of Eng* lish Rugby than were our recent visitors Nevertheless. if Don Clarke lands a crucial goal from a range of about a couple of miles. go<>d luck to him; and be damned to any one at Twickenham t 80.000 or whatever it is. whe may think otherwise.—Yount etc., ILAM. ; June 8, 1963.