TO TOUR ENGLAND

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 5

TO TOUR ENGLAND

AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE TEAM

INVITATION TO NEW ZEALAND*

Followers of the Bugby League Football gamg,in New Zealand will be^ interested to learn of an invitation from New South Wales, to join in a tour of England this year. In the course of an article in a recent issue of the Sydney Keferee, "The Cynic" says:—The absence of the English team will ensure a quieter season in 1921, thoughTthe organising of the colonial team to leave for England before winter passes will giva an impetus to the players, and perhaps prove stimulating to the public. In talking over the prospects of the English tour with, Mr. Miller the'other day, one ■was surprised to hear that the players are to each receive £4 5s per- week, in addition to all travelling expeneee, the .cost of « uniforms, etc. Moreover, any profits will be set apart for providing a. bonus to the players, after the League deducts 2j per, cent, to cover preliminary» expenses. The idea in making, the -weekly allowance "so substantial," said Mr. Miller, "is to, ensure the team being thoroughly representative, as upon that j will depend the success of the tour. .We do not want any man to decline the invitation on the ground that he cannot iafford to make the trip on the allowances provided." Having gone into the whole tour with characteristic attention to details, Mr. Miller reckons the cost of the. campaign will be about 100 per cent, more than it was.on the last tour prior to the war. But he has ample evidence to support the expectation that, instead of the Australian sharo of the gates realising approximately £6000 in England, they will be something like £12,000 or mofe. "There should be a profit this time; instead -of the loss tre had to make up on the other tours," hh added. New Zealand is being invited to, jpin in the team to England, the idea being to make it Australasian in character, arid thoroughly representative at that. It is proposed to invite New Zealand and Queensland to send representative teams to Sydney in June to play New South Wales teams on the same day and ground, thus providing a treat for the public and a fitting opportunity for the many candidates to show their form, and give the selectors an opportunity of dia- . criminating, between them. It is suggested that the selection committee for • tliis Australasian team to 'tour New Zealand shall consist of three representing • New South Wales, and one each from New Zealand and Queensland. From the matches in Juno it is hoped the NewSouth Wales League will be able to defray the cost of bringing the teams from New Zealand -and Queensland, and then make a donation of £1000 to the funds of the touring team. As a bonus is to be handed to the players after the tour has finished. from the profits, this is a very important item. Advices from England show that Northern Union gates have enormously increased since the war, owing to enhanced popularity of the'game and to gate charges having been increased 100 .per-cent. For club matches.of the Australasian team tho charges will ba 2s, and for matches with counties 2s 6d. On the last team in England the New South Wales League lost £185, but it is anticipated that'this time thare will.be a surplus. It'has not yet been determined 'by what ro9te tha team will travel to England,. There is ■'-* possibility of going via America, though the Suez and South African rout«s are under consideration.