THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 9

THE BRITISH FOOTBALLERS.

-"A DELICATE SUBJECT." .-., WHO WAS THE MEIIBER? Under the heading, "A Delicate Sub•eot," the "Athletic News," in a recent isBu'es remarks:—ln recent years the Rugby Union have had many delicate questions to discuss, somo of which they would gladly have never considered at all had their attention not been forced to them by the repeated urgiugs of insistent folk who are fond of stirring muddy pools. And. they have now confronting them a subject which thai administrative and executive body cannot anticipate with pleasure. It is being freely discussed in Rugby circles, and tho .members of the Auglo-Wolsh toanjs who went out to JNew Zealand are expressing their opinion of the matter in emphatic terras. They arc Boiindignant at what has occurred that by the sheer pressure of opinion the Rugby Union Committee must take action, for more than one international player has declared that unless the matter is sifted to tho bottom the right of the ruling body to deal with other playors must ba seriously challenged. It is, however, difficult to say in what manner, or under what printed rule, the Rugby Union can show their disapproval of a'matter which has provoked so much indignation from men of the touring combination.

; j#nefly/put,/ th'e/qMrges amount'to disloyal I On the voyage out," while every other man,*of /the party /■trained; and' got into'.cpri-: ■ Oiuon,' for the strenuous, garr.es': to be 'played,'- , one-;man would do nothing of 'the kind;, pre-. ;terringj so-it is/declared; to bask inthe'sunBhine/.and beauty's '.smiles.■■: In New Zealand beijelied:;up'on: ; to turn-out. While-other players asked leaye' on certain occasions,-and were/.sometimes Refused, -this mani-became,a;law unto himself without acquainting the manager of; his intentions. In .otileast^one important is'-"said''-to have, left,the; field,of ..play, with :the excuse tnat .Bβ: had sustained,personal injury; and .never-returned, though.it was declared that -the.vreaspn: given was an idle-pretext. It is noisecret-that-so .disgusted 'was tho , manacer *^ d r-|9.''i Wonsqd were- tho ■ rest oi • side ; thst friction was rampant, thatihe iandi.union took;, definite cognisance of the ; plaver's conduct," and that lie. return to Ene-' .land/preinaturely.-v-.;/;,;,: : .,;-:. -..? \Dnipn-:haye>nover ;; been' ; at a 1055,./tq:;-.make;/their, powprjfolt"in peculiar cases;.;and/,it/would:;seom : tliat .jri-this instance:_th€y;will hove to rdop't.a special course >of happily/for : the ;BAigby! game, has,ever been/brought under their,.- notice, .but : feeHng"/is so -acute that members'of the-committeo have been plainly tpld/bjymen who went to.New Zealand that ; '■they yii\\ not pla.y in a.team/if this man be 6elected; for it. ; All/the /facts 'are in tho pos- . session ; .of the,.Rugby.Qommitteev.and:one or twbiof.-ite members ; are hot: going H6 allow the.matter/tp rest. ;The situation lias to, be faced j: the question is,. What will the Rucbv ' Union do?; v'v. -• ::: : . v; r. / . :