COMING RUGBY SEASON

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2421, 29 March 1915, Page 7

COMING RUGBY SEASON

MR. E. 0. HALES ON THE PROSPECTS. Mr. E. 0. Hales, chairman of the Wellington Rugby Onion, was questioned as to the prospects of the national game in the City during the coming season. In viow of the fact that most of the annual general meetings of the clubs have now been held, Mr. Hales considers that an estimate of the position may bo giveu. "My own personal opinion," ho said, "is that,' unless recruiting is going to affect the game to a greater extent than at' present, the senior ranks will ho much the tame as before. In fact, it may. be said that all the : senior teams vviil be vory strong." The Wellington Qlub had suffered most, lie stated, Athlotio had lost good men like Hobem and Robinson, and other teams had been thinned out more or less, but there were capable juniors to fill up tho gaps here and there. Roughly, the Athletic Club's active membership list had been reduced by 40 out of slightly moro than 100 players, and, as mentioned above, the Wellington Club's loss had been .heavier. These losses, however, did not fall, in ordinary proportion, upon the senior teams and the senior competition promised to be particularly keen and interesting. On the otlior hand, there was likely to be a, general curtailment of junior grade football, because of the large number of younger players going to the war. The same competitions would bo played as in previous years, but probably only about half the usual number of teams would be competing. Some of the older clubs, tliat had been represented in all grades last season, would this year have to dispense with either their junior, or third-class, or fourthclass teams.

Should the union find that football interfered with reoruiting at any time, it would not hesitate to take the proper course, as it fully recognised that matters military deserved first attention. Mr. Hales does not think, however, that football will prevent any younv man from answering the country's call, and he is convinced of the healthy nature of the'sport and of its valuo lor keeping the younger generation fit. Tne season in Wellington will commence about the second or third Saturday after Easter, and will be carried on while the weather and the military situation permit. The position is that tho union must keep going to meet its financial obligations.