FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

BRITISH TEAM AT SYDNEY. REMARKS BY HARDING. CASUALTIES NOT DUE TO ROUGH PLAY. (ill TELEGRAm —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COFTRIOHT.) (Rec. July 31, 10.55 p.m.) Sydney, July 31. Tho Rugby Union welcomed the English Rugby'team on its arrival from New Zealand. Mr. Harding (captain), in an interview, sai3 that tho team had been royally treated throughout New Zealand, and had been given a really good time, but had been dogged by bad luck. He attributed the loss of several matches to ill luck. Then, too,„ the men sustained a romarkablo number of injuries, which limited selection, particularly as regards test matches. In tho first and third tests England was badly beaten, and was undoubtedly outplayed and out-gener-alled. The Now Zealanders, he added, are magnificent footballers. Ho would like to dispel any impression that tho Englishmen's casualties wero duo to roughness. ' Tho New Zoalandors play a very willing game, but not a rough one. Any idea that roughness on their part is responsible for the Britishers' injuries is certainly wrong. THE "ALL BLACK" PROFESSIONALS. TO PLAY " SOCCER." When the " All Black" Professional Footballers lort New Zealand on. their visit to England, tho New Zealand Rugby Union said, in effect, that when they. camp back they would not be allowed to play tho Rugby game. Now . that tho professionals have returned, they naturally wish to play football, and since the Rugby Union has shut the door upon them, they have evinced a desiro to follow , the gamo of Soccer. The rules of the English Football Association, which govern tho New Zealand Association, do not bar professional players, At least two of the "All Blacks" are now members of Soccer toams, but a proper understanding regarding their status in local sport has not, so far as Soccer is concerned, been arrived at. The mattor was discussed at a special meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Football Association hold last evening, Mr. F. J. Courtney presiding. Thero were also present:— Messrs. A. Williams, H. 'M'Keowen, G. F. Brodio, • W. Auld, E. R. Martin, L. White, G. Uren, and B. L. Salmon. Tho Chairman ruled that tho mooting had power to terminate the agreement made the Now Zealand Rugby Union, by which suspensions of players by each body were mutually, agreed upon, and that such power be retrospective. . Mr. Williams moved: —"That tho agreement existing between tho N.Z.R.U. and N.Z.F.A. as to enforcing disqualifications bo discontinued as from this date, and that all existing disqualifications enforced at the request of the N.Z.R.U. cease as from this date.".

Mr! White moved, as an amendment:— "That the agreement between the N.Z.R.U.ttiid N.Z.F.A. as to enforcing disqualifications bo discontinued as from this date." They did not, said Mr. White, desire to open the door to every man who had boeri disqualified by the Rugby Union. Tho amendment' was carried. Mr. M'Keowen then moved that the disqualifications imposed upon the "All Black" Professional Rugby Team bo removed as from, this date. 1 Mr. Uron moved as an amendment that tho question be deferred until opinions worerecoived from the affiliated Associations as to the ; wholo question of professionalism. The amendment was lost and motion carried. ; . On Mr. Brodie'B motion, it was resolved to write to all centres and ask 1 them to instruct tboir delegates at tho conference to be hold in Dunedin early in September as to whether it was advisable to have a purely amateur, status in New Zealand. MATCHES AT AUCKLAND. (by telegbath—PßESS association.) . Auckland, July 31. Tho South Canterbury football team arrived here to-day, via West Coast. Tho team will play . Auckland representatives at Alexandra Park to-morrow. • The Auckland City Council last evening granted the use of the Victoria . Park for August 22 for tho purpose of holding a Northern Union match. It is understood locally that a match, Wellington vl Auckland will bo played on that day. Tho Auckr land team contains seven- returned professionals, and it is said the balanco will be well-known Auckland amatjurs.

The following havo been picked to represent tho Southern fourth-class team at the Athletic' Park to-day at 1.30 p.m.Collins, Gray, Wetherall,' Flanagan, Parker, Russell, Taylor, Pope, Twomey,' Riggs, Stovens, Guthrie, Peppor, Miles, Clark;