"A NATIONAL AFFAIR"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 128, 27 November 1923, Page 8

"A NATIONAL AFFAIR"

RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND

REPORT FROM iN.S.W. MANAGER.

A copy of an interesting report drawn up by.Mr. T. H. Boswaid, manager of the JNew South Wales Rugby team which visited New Zealand last season, for the JN.b.W. Rugby Union, was received by mail from Australia to-day. Mr. Bosward, after extending congratulations to the New Zealand Rugby Union and the captains and players of the New Zealand Test teams on their great victories by whicn they regained the "Ashes," states that the programme was quite a formidable task for the best team New South Wales could send. It .was-the first occasion on which a combination from Australia met New Zealand three times in the Dominion. The travelling involved in the tour was also calculated to tax the hardest of teams, and added considerably to the difficulties in front of the N.S.W representatives. With eleven of the best players unable to make the trip, the proposition was bigger than ever, and it had to be remembered that the tour came at the fag end of a heavy season's football. Mr. Bosward points out also that New Zealand spared to effort to redeem their defeats by New South Wales in the two previous seasons, and efficient preparation assisted in the victories gained by the New Zealand teams. "When all these circumstances are taken into account, and,the youthful nature of the team is remembered—average age 22, average weight 12 stone—it will be admitted that the tearj, though, not crowned with victory was not disgraced," says Mr. Bosward. "A perusal of the Press accounts of any of the games played will also indicate that a good standard of football was displayed by your team on every, occasion. In fact, the team was generally referred to as 'the clever but unlucky combination.' "There is no doubt that the standard of play has greatly improved. Forward play everywhere is of high quality, and many evidences of improvement in back play were apparent. Auckland, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington gave admirable displays by their backs; every player was keyed to his best effort by the prospect of selection for the Tests and the tour to Britain and France next year. "Football is truly a national affair in New Zealand, and visiting players are treated like royal personages. So lavish was the entertainment at each centre that some items had to be curtailed in order that good football (which was tha first consideration always) should be possible.

"Perhaps the finest feature of the tour was the evidence of the cordial nature of the relationships between the two union's,, and next of all, between the players.. It was delightful to see-the opposing players fraternising at the dinners and functions provided the teams. Many lifelong friendships have i>een established. Football provides the greatest freemasonry known."