RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 83, 8 April 1922, Page 12

RUGBY

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

(By "Drop-Kick.'")

The general prospects of the football season in Wellington were surveyed by "Droplock 1 ' on two or three occasions during the past three weeks from different viewpoints, and, though developments are proceeding steadily, there is really nothing definite to add to what lias been published. Club secretaries are busy making arrangements for the opening of the season in about three weeks' time and there are such possibilities of change in the interval that it would be | useful to try and give a further estimate of the personnel of senior teams beyond what has been given already. The situ- ! atioh is undoubtedly lively and, Frenchmen here or not,. there is every likelihood of the season being as interesting as last, though in a rather different way. One is rather inclined to Dr. M'Evedy's view, than to Mr. G. F. C. Campbell's, and to think a respite from international visits not undesirable in order that local football may be built up strongly. Club football has suffered too much from sea-sons too soon curtailed by representative and international matches. Another season of hectic excitement such as characterised the sojourn here of the ■Springboks would be rather trying and, though one may cotn'mend the enterprise of the New Zealand Bugby Union in endeavouring to get the Frenchmen here even for an abridged tour, one may well deserve a spell and ,enjoy some really good club football in the senior championship fought out to. a real finish. Probably the Wellington' Rugby Union would be equally agreeable to a solid season. International visits bring a. good deal of sense of financial strain on the management of Rugby here, as was very well indicated in the acrimonious tones of controversy towards the end of last season, when the Springboks were leaving. Thai venture, ever to be memorable in New Zealand Rugby history, proved far more expensive than was ever thought—so per cent, more, if the figures quoted are fact. Against the estimate of £12,000 for the tour, stands the actual —so far as can be learned—£lß,ooo. It would be interesting to know, what the gross and the net takings were. For the Frenchmen the cost was roughly estimated at £20,000, and there is certainly room for serious thought before deciding to welcome the visitors for a shorter trip and fewer matches. At the time of writing this Mr. G. W. Slade, chairman of the N.Z.E.F.U. executive had not received any reply to his last cable. The international table of Rugby matches in the Old Country ak the beginning of February after the ScotlandWales match stood as under:- • Points. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. ' Wales 2 1 0 1 37, 15 3 Scotland 2 0 0 2 12 12 2 France 10 0 1 3 3 1 England 10 10 6* 28 0 The facts of the Vidal case in France were not made quite clear in the original cable message. News by mail explains the affair more fully. M. Gaston Vidal, Under-Secretary of State for Technical Instruction and Physical Education, made the statement ir> an interview that professionalism was common in many Rugby teams in the South of France. A similar charge had been made before, but the Rugby Federation decided thai a statement by a member of the French Cabinet could not be allowed to pass unnoticed. They denied the allegation, and then called upon M. Vidal, a member of the federation and formerly a well-known Rugby player, to give an explanation at a special meeting. M. Vidal refused, and was expelled from tb.9 federation by 190 votes to 175.

Another sensation Was caused by M. Franz Reichel, one of the oldest sportsmen in France, and founder of many athletic federations, resigning from the Association Football Federation, following a decision by the • council of the federation to meet an English team composed partly of amateurs and partly of professionals. It is believed that the steps taken by M. Vidal and M. Reichel may lead to a number of dubs running professional teams and the formation of a professional football league. It isl stated that the adoption of professionalism will mean that clubs will no longer enjoy immunity from taxation and that they will have to pay to the Stats from 15 to 40 per cent, of their receipts. It is added that the State will take 40 per cent, of the gate receipts at the next France v. England Association game. Following was M. Vidal's reply to his Critics:—"l don't care a rap, hut am thoroughly decided, and you can tell my friends in England to continue tbc cam. paign, so that sports which you taught ur some twenty years ago do not degenerate. Sport iD France, and in Rugby especially, must be clean and amateur. The reason why the public powers encourage sport is because we knew that after the war we could, through it, regenerate the race, but we will not stand seeing our efforts and the efforts made for the past twenty years to foster clean, amateur sport annihilated by the conduct of certain federations who make of sport a ' social danger. The' actual tendency is towards ■professionalism. I maintain all tha accusations x have made—that Rugby in particular is no more a clean, gentlemanly amateur sport in France. Through big gates recently obtained,, Rugby matches have become a spectacle and sport in general no longer instrumental in the culture of the nice."

"The consequences are that too many young m&a, who know tliat they cam make money by or through playing, h^ve no other object in life tSban to become professionals, with the result that, wheul too old to play, and, having, of course, saved no money, they find themselves without any trade or position, fos- jn France it is not tha same &s in England. "Rugby, especially in Southern France, is played by all ckssec. That is wiry I wiH take all mea-sorea of a conservative and financial nature to ni&ir.tain morality in sport. Our arm is to have as many young mea ea possible benefited by'sport, znd not io make a legion of professionals. In sport I maintain thai professkmaJis.:n should, bs tire exception, noi thy rale."

Footbail. showa signs of bcorsiag ■in Taxanaki this season. Entries 'or the. various competitions show an iTicreasa in all gradeo. In all ssventy-or.e taanra have nominated, vis. 9 senior A, 6 senior B, 22 first junior, 1? second jvtnior, and 17 third junior. All the junior gratks have hewn divided into three ,divisior<a—ilo:th, Couth, and Central.

Urging. «.n ,Bst limit for boye playing in primary sohool competitions, as op-' posed to a suggested Bst 7ib 2or prim-' ary sohoola vriih a. secondary d.epa-rt-ment, "Oensorras" in the Sout.hia.nd Times :—"The 'big' lx>y k heavier, older, aad farter, and his advantages are such that he is r. tank among the infantry, if the 'boy footballer gets, up against the 'nig' boy problem hia morale goes._ Men p'js.ys:a will fight against heavier teams to the lasi ounce of strength,. Tint wren they feel their handicap, and have to overcome it. Men's teams have 'caved' in be/oro superiority In wwjfht Urnss »at ef mimW. Admit' Übr this to ba go, what must he tb«.

case of tho boy? His inferiority has a greater effect on him, and his heart sinks. Watch a crowd at a game. Its Heart is noisily with, the small boy as against the big fellow. Does it worry itself as much about disparity in bulk in a man's game ? That's the instinct of the crowd going back to its- own boyhood days, Tile remedy ? An Bst weight limit at the ■beginning of the season, and the competitions restricted to primary schools." The Eastbourne Club, though only in the second year of it« existence, is already showing signs of rapid growth. Laet year the club was only able to put two teams in the field, but this year it is hoped that the district will be represented by three fifteens, and perhaps four. It is certain that entries- will be made in the third and intermediate grades, but the lower grades have not yet been decided upon. The club is very anxious to play in the junior grade, and if a successful season is experienced this year, it is more than probable that th& ■East Harboul" district will be. represented by a junior fifteen next year. Some members, at the annual meeting recently, stated, that they looked forward to the day when the Bays would be represent, od in the senior championship, and that at no distant date.

Mr. J. W. Heenan, who recently secured a seat on.the Rugby Union Management Committee, though omcially re. presenting the Athletic Football Club, is a resident of Eastbourne, and' a prominent member of the Athletic and Boxing Clubs ili "the Bay district, "as well as being a n ardent supporter of the local Rugby cftib.

Many improvements are being made to the RecreatiOD Ground at Eastbourne* and, when the season opens, visiting teams will find that the crude conditions which existedi last season have disappeared, and that an excellent sports ground has been provided for all athletic and football events.