FIJI'S INTEREST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 148, 27 June 1929, Page 11

FIJI'S INTEREST

UtiITISH TEAM'S TOUR

Interesting information regarding Rugby football in Fiji, together with a request for a visit from the British team which is to tour New Zealand next season, was contained in a letter placed before the New Zealand Kugby Union's Management Committee last evening from the Fiji Rugby Union. The letter stated:—

"In Suva wo have a European competition with four senior clubs competing, and a native competition with six teams. The European competition is about equal to your second grade, and a Fiji representative team would about equal one of your senior clubs. The Auckland University has sent two visiting teams here, bu£ they have not met with much success, the first tour ending in a win each and a draw. In the second the Fiji team routed them by winning two of the three Tests and drawing the third. "I have been given to understand that the English Rugby team which is to visit New Zealand in 1930 will be passing through Fiji Islands. If this is correct, we would be grateful if your union would use its influence and arrange for us to play a match with them, officially or otherwise.. If you could do this for us, the game in Fiji would be materially benefited and would go a long way towards improving our standard. It is seldom that we.ever get the.chance of playing or seeing any good football, so we like to make use of every opportunity.". It was. pointed' out that the, steamer on which the British team was ' coming to New Zealand was not likely to call at the Fiji Islands, and it was decided to advise.the Fiji Rugby Union accordingly.