NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 197, 15 May 1920, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY UNION

I. LAST SEASON REVIEWED In its twenty-eighth annual report the ! Management Committee of the New _Zea--1 land Rugby Union congratulated affiliated ! unions on the generul revival of interest i Trliicli was' experienced during tho year, ; and the players on the high standard of , play whic'b was the feature of the various competitions. Despite the fact that i many of the best exponents of the Rugby !' code did not return to New Zealand in ■ time to take part in the season's p.ny, ■6on(u very fine games were seen, and ; tho new players who in i them showed unmistakably t'hat.New ' Zealanil rugby is still up to the standard > maintained during the two-decades which > preceded, the war. The. achievements 01 ■ the. New Zealand Military Service Team, ! too,' were siicb as would be remembered ! with pride. Their success in the King's ! Cup competition against the best teams £ the Empire could produce, and U'eir J subsequent successful tour in South j Africa were features of the Rugby year. I Good Season Forecasted. r The "committee forecasted the brightest ? prospects for a successful season, l'rac- ' tical'.y all the old-time senior players • have returned from active service, anil I current report indicates that a majority } of them are going to take part in tho > Reason's play. Jt is reported too, that ■' new- clubs are forming, while thocomf plete restoration of the interprovincial f watchea promises to give that little exS tra incentive to players winch makes the • difference between a good season and-an i exceptional season. ; Team for Australia, i It is proposed, to send a New Zealand i team to Sydney, leaving' here early in ' July. An ellort was made to obtain a f visit from a Soutli African cornbuiatiun, \ but it is regretted, without succoss. lne 5 South African Union has offered to send f a team during the 1921. season. All lncitation from the Vancouver Rugby au- ■ tlioritie3 was and further particulars are being awaited. It is nopeu ; that th«e will be available for presenta- ; tion to the annual meeting. The recommendation yrns made that a South Island country team tour the • North Islatul this season, nnd a I Island country , team tour the coutn ■ Island next season. The co-operation of local unions was , invoked iii the compilation of a Dominion : roll of honour; , A Small Loss. The balance-sheet disclosed a.smnll loss i on the transactions for the. year, but. i\n some exceptional expenditure had to i be met as the result of tho special general meeting in September and .ti.e subsequent Sydney Conference, ihere. '.s ■ no room'Toi': any' uneasiness. The debt, duo to the New Zealand Eugby Union ' by tho Hawke's Bay Union regarding the ; Logan Park account was written on by the authority •of the delegates in Sep- ; tember last. • t. Rugby in the Schools, The'report expressed the hope that tho ' question of further encouraging sciiool football would receive • serious attention : during the coming season. ".The Eugby game more than any other," stated the report, "has made the reputation of - New,, Zealand in tho athletic world, and i it would bo a thousand pities if th* rising, generation were allowed tp lose en- ; thusiaam through lack of a strong' snort ' to retain their interest thereby.'. The committee believes -that schoolmasters generally appreciate the advantage to a ' hoy's, character of playing- the game' tor the' gauio's sake, but, as ono of them ; ' wrote recently, 1 schoo.masters are not a wealthy cliissj and school competitions require financing. „ . The committee is indebted to the Wellington Mounted Rifle Brigade for the handsome cup presented for competition !-between ; tlie : secondary schools, on the : lines of the Eanfurly Shield competition. ! Ths schools have been circularised and | invited to enter for the first competition, ! which -will consist of an island tourna- ! mcht at .I'almerston North and Ch-rist- ! church "respectively, the best- team in ! eaoh l islnnd lu meet later at Wellington I to decide which school is to have tho ! honour of holding the cup for this sea- ! eon.'.and defending it-against challenges i later on. ' Already five schoo's have enI tered teaiiib, and further, entries are an- . ticipated.' '