Rugby in New Zealand

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 9

Rugby in New Zealand

Sir, —Some little time ago prominence was given to an article written by a Wellington sporting writer in which hd stated there were only three provinces that really counted so far as Rugby football is concerned, viz., Wellington, Auckland, and Hawke’s Bay, and without even giving a reason for such an absurdly sweeping statement practically dismissed the rest, of New Zealand as of little or no account. In view of the following facts (not opinions), (1) that Canterbury holds the Ranfurly Shield, (2) the South Island team proved equal to the North, (3) the South Island Mabris defeated the North Island Maoris, and Canterbury alone supplied six members of the South Island team, it would be interesting to know the present views of this parochial or ignorant critic. In case he also airs his views on cricket, etc., it may be as well to remind him that Canterbury also holds the Plunket Shield, and the hockey shield, and it will no doubt assist him to look up the records for the past few years and see the number of “AH Blacks’’ that Canterbury in particular has produced—among whom is Lilburne, who is recognised even in Wellington as the finest five-eighth at present playing in New Zealand, and who was bred and born in Canterbury and played all his football here from school to “All Black,” and with whom Wellington was even then not able to hold the shield against a “no account” Canterbury team. —I am, etc., "CANTERBURY.” Christchurch, August 24.