RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 19

RUGBY

(By

“Five-Eighths.”)

PAYMENT OF PLAYERS Although it is understood that the New Zealand Rugby Union has not yet taken definite action in protesting to the English Rugby Union against them decision not to allow the All Blacks to bo paid a daily allowance to meet out-of-pocket - expenses, the matter is being freclv discussed among players ami lovers of Rugby. It is difficult to find any person associated with Rugby either as player, administrator, or spectator, who condones the action of the English Rugby Union. The beliei is generally expressed that the influence of the Scottish Rugby Union may be seen in tho parent body’s action, owing to its i’ocont heresy hunt and the Noil Macpherson incident. Among players <vho have reasonable prospect of being selected for tho tour there is a strong feeling that if the English Rugby Union persists in its atjjitude in refusing to accord io the All Blacks the same consideration that is given to teams of touring English foot bailers and English and Australian cricketers, many players will be unabl“ to go to England. Those who have more than comfortable means, or those who can rely on monetary assistance from their parents, may bo able to go, bur there is little prospect of young men who aro depending on their own earnings for a living making the. trip. To the young married’ man it is outside the scope of jxissibility that he can make provision for his wife and family for six months, and find an extra £lOO to fit himself out for the trip and ensure his having sufficient money in his possession to return a proportion of the many little acts of personul kindness or hospitality he will experience at Home. The same applies, although, in less measure, to the young unmarried man, for it is more than likely that his surplus earnings and savings have already been hypothecated in paying off a section or in planning his home

of the future. It is difficult, manifestly. for the English Rugby Union to understand the position of the New Zealand Rugfay plaver, as compared with the player at Homo. The latter is recruited almost exclusively from the moneyed class; quite half the players in Now Zealand are working men. If there is any reason, logic, and justification for paying English Rugby men <> r English or Australian cricketers, surely it applies with equal force to Now Zealand. In some recent notes in these columns. doubt was expressed whether O. N. Lowe, the famous English threequarter. would play this season.. This hai been set at, rest, for Lowe is now plavintr with his old club. Blackheath, and according to the most recent reports. is. in his best form. When Blackheath bent London Hospital last month bv 35 to 3. Lowe had the bigrest hand in their defeat. Playing in tho centre, instead of on the right winr. his accustomed place. Lowe not only registered three trios, hut had a considerable share in tho work leading un to other scores. He showed that he could still swerve at a fast pace, and that he had retained the fine iudement that made b’m a big force in English international football for so manv years.