RUGBY FOOTBALL THE NORTHERN UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 74, 30 March 1910, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL THE NORTHERN UNION.

COMING COLONIAL TOUR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 18th February. "Forward," writing in the Athletic News, «ays :—: — "Tho long period of suspense and uncertainty in connection with the proposed visit of a Northern Union team to Australia has happily ended. Oil Saturday a cable message from Mr. Larkin, secietary of the New South Wales League, conveyed tho intelligence that Australia would agree to the terms which the Northern Union had submitted. Thus the tour is certain, and the protracted negotiations which commenced at the close of the last Australian Reason have' ended satisfactorily to all concerned. I pay tribute to the colonials. They have' shown themselves true sportsmen, and have agreed to all the terms originally made by the English Union. These terms will probably not be divulged until a statement of accounts is issued at the end of the season, but the fact that Australia have improved on their original offer twice, and finally agreed to all the Northerri Union's demands, is evidence that the colonials are most anxious to entertain the premier union. ARRANGEMENTS WELL ADVANCED. "The arrangements of the tour are well advanced. A provisional programme is arranged, and if the Australian League's proposals are approved the firvt match will bi» played on Saturday, 4fth June. The team will leave England an the eve of the Cup final, and arrangements will be made for plavern who ha*e been chosen from the Cup finalists to travel overland via Brindisi. On the laftt Saturday of April the league final will be played, and players in thU n»itch cannot possibly arrive in Sydney for the opening game. TJim league final in the only obstacle which will prevent a fnJI representative team for the opening" game of the tour on 4th June. EIGHTEEN Oil TWENTY MATCHES. "I learn from an Australian source — there is now no reason for reticence on the matter — that the complete tour will comprise from eighteen to twenty-two matches. The find big game will be played on the Piiiice of Wules's Birthday — a general holidny in the colony — •nd an optimistic colonial on Saturday guaranteed a 40,000 'gate' at Sydney for the match, weather condition*, of course, being favourable. Two matches I per week will be played, and the vifit to New Zealand will conclude the tour. | New Zealnnd has given a suitable guarantee for fix game*, and according to present arrangement* the visit trill terminate early in Augurt, the team arriving hack in England during the second or third week in September. Australia's intention is to play the 'Kangaroos' and the 'Wallabies' against their guest*, and these games, with the possible exception of combined Australasia, should be the most interesting of the tour. FOR THE HONOUR OF THE UNION. "May I plead with the union to abandon the original idea of asking rlubs for nominations T It i* an open wc-ret that some prominent officials do not at nil favour the tour, but the innjoiitv rule, ■nd now that the visit has been decided upon our union's duty to themselves, and the leagues of Australia and New Zealand, is to rrlect the best tfam. If a playpr cannot for mivate rea.«ons< make the journey, then lie must be excused, but allow the player the option. Club jealousies and narrow-minded ideas must not be tolerated on this all important matter of team selection. Twenty-four or twenty-six players aro to be taken, and, for honour's sake, these must be the best on the league register of the Northern Union. Criticism of thp »ide will be opportune when th* names are published. My present appeal is that the union exert their authority and do their ditty. Matches must be won if the tour is to be a financial success, and one best players are willing and eager to te.'t their strength with the colonials."