PROGRESS OF THE GAME

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 57, 8 March 1930, Page 15

PROGRESS OF THE GAME

OUTSIDE HELP WANTED

■Some interesting impressions on Kugby football in Canada were given a "Post 1' reporter by Mr. Val Guunion, who recently returned after spending about' four years in Canada and the United States. Mr. Guunion played1 Rugby in AVcllingtou with .the St; ■Tames Club,' and joined the' Bcrham-, pore Club when- it was. formed. He will once again be playing with his old club this season:1

.-;Oif his' arrival .hi Vancouver, Mr. tiumiioii-played for tho A raucouver Bowing Club's team,- tho three other clubs in ,f he city, each of which rau only one team, being the L'x-Kiug George's Club, the lix-King' .Edward's Club, and tho Maraloma^Clubi . Tho majority' of the players were former secondary school players, although there; were ,a. number oi and1 oh,?-, or two Nejv Zealauders... .Among tho New ■Zealau'ders was P. AViison.- from' Hawkes Bay. -.: ■■'■'■! i According to., Mr, Gunilion, the Can-i adia'n; players had the ability'and the ambition- necessary .to make good footballers, but.lack of competition hampered the" development of their game. The only opportunity of meeting outside -teams .was when touring- teama passed''through.' -He* represented the. 'Canadians-against the Maoris on their 'last tour, and-a.15.0 played in a match,' Canada'agiiis't'the world, in which the^ home players met a team comprising Englishmen, South Africans, New Zea landers, and; Americans. ,

Further visits from overseas teams would, do much to help,the Canadian game. Eugby was being encouraged more than in prcv/ous years in the secondary schools where American footbail held" sway. At first there was only oue ground available in Vancouver, but there word now'two... It was possible ■to play, throughout the winter, but it was frequently necessary for the ground to be covered with s^traw until" the match commenced in order to prevent iiic. gjomjd .'becoming frozen. In Toronto, .where there were two teams playing, the season extended only over about two months in the fall.

The Eugby code was winning over a number of .recruits from the American game, and this was having a somel~wh at'peculiar.effect on tho game. Although the new players accepted the Eugby ..rules, i they 'brought. with them uniform ..of-the; American code With its ..armour-like . embellishments of padded shoulders, thick trousers/skull caps, and nose guards. v . There was no doubt that llugby could command ,a following from the public provided the matches were of sufficient general interest,, and on the occasion of the Maori match there was an attendance of between three and four' thousand. AVhen Mr. Gunnion came away an endeavour rwas being made to organise a team to go on tour, and it was in this respect that assistance from New Zealand would be welcomed.

Mr. Gunriion had-a final word for the referees who, he said, were keen/and, on the whole, efficient, thougn, like the players, they had few opportunities of keeping abreast of the times. The rules were the same as played in Eng;lautl.:'.-.'■ ■■.:■■./-.-:.■ .i.-\-'--.'."}\ .'.■ ' v.- .-