ALL BLACKS' TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1924, Page 6

ALL BLACKS' TOUR

NEWPORT ASK FOR MORE

IMPOSSIBLE NORTHERN UNION

PROPOSAL,

Although the All Blades have had a, strenuous time in fulfilling engagements "and will still be kept busy with events ere the tour is over, requests are being made of them to play extra games. Newport, for instance, are not satisfied to let tho close decision against them stand without another trial of strength with the tourists, and a. request has come from their quarter for a return match with the All Blacks, i The idea behind this desire is to. give Newport the opportunity of including in the team those international players who could not take part in the previous match with the All Blacks through being away with the British team in South Africa.. It is unlikely, however, that Newport will have a second chance against the visitors during the present tour. Another. request comes from' Torquay, where, it is hoped, the All Blacks will be able to appear in a match, thfi' proceeds of which it is proposed shall go. to charity. When the All Blacks were entertained at Torquay Mr. Dean, manager of (.he team, intimated that the request would receive every consideration, but so far no word has come to hand to suggest that arrangements have been made for the tourists to appear on the field at Torquay. There .have been various reports about "arrangements being made for the All Blacks to play in Scotland. The statement has been published at Homp that "the New Zealand Rugby team intend to pay Scotland a visit in January, and are anxious to play a match in Glasgow." A well-known merchant, with a big colonial connection, it is also stated, fcas been approached on the j subject, and efforts are likely to- bs made "with a view to fixing up a team ',to oppose the All Blacks in Glasgow." The "Evening News" points out that the game will not, of course, be arranged by the Scottish Union. Another item a'oout the proposal reads as follows :— "It is doubtful whether the' Scottish Rugby Union would countenance such a. contest, and while opposition could probably be marshalled readily enough, a. Soccer ground would have to be utilised. lam told that the most unpopular body of any kind just now north r>i-. the, Tweed is the Scottish Rugby jon-. ■As arrangements have been made for the All Blacks to leave England immediately after their return trom France, there does not now appear to;be any prospect of a match iv Scotland; in fact, the possibility has been .very. remote all along. From a cabled message to-day it ap: P Ae,fV hf f e Pr°P°sal "•Ato the' •W tl t d,V ri ?g--tneir visit to .Wembley that a chanty match be played is definitely taking shape

"UNTHINKABLE" PROPOSAL One proposal, which cannot poss'iblv be entertained, is that-the New Zea.landers meet a team from the ranks o£ •■ Northern Union players the proceeds of the- game to go to charity. The sugcres.tion -was.thrown out in all seriousness, but ]n Rugby there are rules which difter entirely from those in cricket, which- permit of professionals playiii" witii amateurs. The-participants and all connected with a match such as that suggested, would find that their status |as amateurs had ended, and it is not hlvely that the risk of disqualification Ijs going ,to be taken. It is no doubt a, good move on the part of the Northern Union—League is the term in New Zealand—enthusiasts, who are evidently keen to win over the players who are adding more fine deeds to football history, but the chances of, it bein<* successful are nil. To English and New Zealand controllers of the amateur pame the proposal would appear as nothing short of ridiculous. Following an article in the'"Daily Dispatch." advocating the match, the president of the Jiugby- League and secretary of the Lancashire County, Mr. R Gale, was questioned, as to the feasibility of "the proposal, and he made a reply as fol--I°™?:—"The Rugby League are always willing, and have, always been, to play matches for. charity, and we have never refused to play either amateurs or amaieur sidea. It is not we who are the stumbling block in the way of a rapprochement. If amateurs and professionals can play together in cricket, and in the. Association game, I fail to see why they should not in the Ru<*by <rame Up to now we have bad to face considerable prejudice." Asked as to whether, it both sides were willing there would be any trouble as to whether to play 15 or 13 aside, under Rugby Union rules or_ .under Ru-rby League rules, Mr Gale said he couid see no insuperable difficulty.

Another opinion of the proposal was given in the following terms: "While my colleagues suggestion for a match between the All Blacks and the Eugby League is interesting, I fear it is quite impossible— uuthinkabjo our Rugby Union friends would say." And., that 'is just the light m which the New Zealand Kugby Union officials would view the matter. . ,

Ihe New Zealand Rugby Union has received no official advice of any additions to the list of matches which was agreed to after the original proposal ofthe'Eng. lish Rugby Union was amended by a reduction of the number to thirty, including two matches in France. Twenty-four of the twenty-eight matches set down for England, Wales, and Ireland;have been played..