PROFESSIONAL RUGBY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 6

PROFESSIONAL RUGBY.

A' SECRET MOVEMENT.' , i WHAT WILE"AMATEURISM: DO P,'T , (DY TELEOBArD—rillisa. ASSOCIATION,)' . ■ Auckland, January 11. The announcement from Wellington fl wealthy syndicato is prepared to come foN ward with a sum exceeding £20,000 for tho purpose of systematically exploiting Rugby football in the Dominion, as played under tha professional code, will hot have caused much surprise-to those intimately connected with! the followers of; the game here, though tonishment' and even doubt might be expressed at the large amount; • - . , It is known that the movement is being worked up in Aucldand in a systematic manner, though the greatest secrecy is being observed in connection with all that.is done. Northern union' literature is being disseminated in the city among players and others. From what can be learnt an attempt, will be made to get professional football going in Auckland and other parts of the Dominion, especially Wellington, in time , for, the next season, and an endeavour will.be made to get a gronnd for Auckland players at Kingsland. , „ . ~ , A prominent member of the Auckland Rugby Union, when asked what steps TVero being takeii to counteract tho movoriicritj replied that nothing had been done so far, aa they had nothing tangibleto go xipon. In any case the Now Zealand Union is likely to be better informed than tho local unions, and the parent body would;soon decide upon action and would advise the provincial unions accordingly^