RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BREAK WITH FRANCE

MUST PUT HOUSE IN ORDER

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 12 th March. It is officially announced that the associated representatives of the English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh Rugby Unions have decided to .cancel all fixtures with France and French clubs after this ,_ season, and until control and conduct of Rugby, football in Franco is placed on a satisfactory basis. According to the Paris correspondent of "The Observer," the resolution has been described in Franco not only as an ultimatum, but as a vexatious and discourteous proceeding and even as an insult, to conform to whose demands would bo equivalent to swallowing an affront. Tho immediate problem, however, is to ■find a basis, of reconciliation between the F.F.R. (Federation Francaisc do Rugby) and the U.F.R.A. (Union Francaiso Se Rugby Amateur) made up of the twelve clubs—often referred to as "les douzeV —who broke away from the official organisation of the F.F.R., because the latter, .tolerated practices virtually amounting lo professionalism. A first step is being taken towards the reconciliation of the F.F.R. and the dessident clubs, certain of which have placed their members at the disposal of the federation, to be included in the City of Paris team, which will play in the annual match against the French Army on Thursday (Mi-Carems Day). It is" hoped that this reconciliation will be sufficiently advanced for a representative team to be made up to play against England, at Colombes, on Easter Monday, (ith April—for it must bo remembered that the resolution of the British Unions does not come into effect until after the end of the present season, and French Rugby authorities are grateful for the respite of the whole summer, which will thus be at their disposal for putting their house in order. A DEBASING INFLUENCE. The enormous growth of Rugby clubs in France following tho war (writes the Rugby correspondent of "The Observer") and the leap of the game into an extraordinary popularity had the consequences -that might have been anticipated and have been experienced by other countries to a less extent —the widening of the net resulted in the capture of many undesirable fisli! But the Frenchmen had not ingrained in them the "games tradition" to enable them to deal with such a situation, and so were at a disadvantage, compared with other nations, from the start. The general public who came, to watch "le Rugby" did not appreciate the point of view .of playing the game for its own sake, but expected their moneys worth—and it was their gate money that enabled clubs to be formed and equipped—they demanded something more exciting tlian merely friendly rivalry. The result was the French club championship. RESULT EVERYTHING. This championship has no counterpart in British Rugby, and it is difficult for us to realise the intensity of local partisanship that it engenders. Tho position of a club in the championship table is an accurate index of the number of spectators who will pay to watch its matches. The result is everything, the game comparatively unimportant! The inevitable sequelae of such an. attitude wero tho offering of "inducements" to good players and the growth of rough play. When the end is debased, the means will follow suit. Brutality spread'to international matches; it .had become a habit. Once the. club championship has been abolished the other evils, quasi-profos-sionalism and brutal play, will also disappear. Another gain will be that players, freed from the obsession of "results" and "wins at any'price," will attain a higher standard of play, and will be able to improve their methods of attack, which has always boon the weakest point, witli French teams. If France will not or eiiimot carry out the sweeping reforms that arc necessary before she can return to grace, she will have struck the knoll of amateur Rugby football; and the game will degenerate into a professional organisation in which finance, not sport, will play the leading part. One cannot believe that the bulk of the players in France will accept such an alternative. QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION. Who can doubt that if France had been adequately represented on the International Board there would have been at least a chance of the present unhappy situation being avoided? Is it too late to hope that this lack of common justice to French Rugby players may be repaired? Would it not be an immense help to France in the difliciilt task which lies before her if sin; had two or more accredited representatives incorporated, in tho board smd qualified, to lay their problems before the board and obtain the benefit of its assistance and advice?