TRYING TIMES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 13

TRYING TIMES

RUGBY RELATIONSHIP

NEW ZEALAND'S VIEWPOINT

"At no stage in the history o£ New Zealand Bugby havo we had cause to j ponder more deeply on our relations with overseas bodies, nor- has there ever been a time when a false step might more easily lead, to chaos and misunderstandings," said'the retiring president (Mr. G. H. Pownall, Wanganui) in addressing delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby "Football Union today. "Our relations with. England have been my chief concern durinj the past year, and as you know; I have used every possible channel to get our point of view appreciated by thevHome authorities, and I think we may claim that our viewpoint is better appreciated at the present moment than ever, before. Just at the moment it is not advisable to go into de--1 tails, but I am sure that the results achieved will bo sincerely appreciated by all. ■.■■'.• ' ' • ' ' . ■ . ' AN OVERSEAS BOARD. ' "I have felt for a. long time that there i should be closer co-operation between the overseas unions affiliated to the Rugby Union. I would go further and say that it would be in the, best interests of the game if we had conferences from ' time to time,, and that the first of these con- | ferences might be held in South Africa while the present Australian team is in i that country. With three Australian ■ unions, South Africa, and New' Zealand I-all represented, much good work: could be 'done-for overseas interests." «• Mr! Pownall suggested that it might even, be advisable to found' an overfeeai .international board. With the adveafciof Argeu"tina and the nations of the ; :EMt into the Rugby world, the much- :V^s:ed qaestiori of tours would speedily, beypme | one. that must be taken in hand atUthe i earliest possible moment. "With : ,3be bulk of Rugby developing in the Southern Hemisphere," he said, ■; "it is ;ests- io visualise tho necessity for an admiiiistrative body functioning'at the same reason of the year as that in which the game is played in its area. Such a board would be of great assistance to the International) Board at Home and> could, if considered necessary and advisable, be attachefd r.to that body. -:.mv-' SCRUMMAGE CHANGE. ! "In-abandoning our own specialised •seven-man - scrummage last, season,' New Zealand gave the Bugby world a very definite and practical demonstration of her desire towards a universal gamo wherever Rugby is played: . , !; "Our tour of Australia wag thus the opening of a new era for New Zealand (the eight-man scrum), or rather the reversion to our game of well over a quarter of ft century back. It was essential, therefore, that this first team should have as good a grounding as possible in the new tactics, and it was exceedingly gratifying to us all when W. J. Walace expressed his willingness to take charge ■of the team." i