ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2444, 24 April 1915, Page 3

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

SPORT AND WAR

THE RUGBY LEAGUE TOUR

FURTHER CRITICISM IN SYDNEY

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Sydney, April' 23. The New South Wales Rugby League, after considering the New Zealand Leaguo's request to postpone the latter's tour to a later date, has decided,:*in view of the season's arrangements beinc already complete, to ask New Zealand" to adhere to the June itinerary. It is not, anticipated that this decision will cause an abandonment of the tour.

The "Daily Telegraph" comments on the excuse made by the president of the New Zoaland League for sending a team to Australia, and says that it shows the difficulty ho has had to discover any justification for the scheme, quite contrary to the spirit which has dominated other sporting bodies in New South Wales. After the splendid manner in which sportsmen have responded and all recruits have sacrificed their sporting engagements in order to drill, it is flaunting in their faces a challenge to send a team here. Apparently if tho team comes it will not be thoroughly representative. This will afford a strong reason for the public not attending the matches, becauso of the war. There is no reason for assuming an attitude of gloom and depression. The policy of the foremost sporting bodies has been recognised, that tho war has imposed on young men their duty to serve at the front or train for the defence of Australia. The promoters oueht to take the hint and drop tho tour?'