OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 6478, 20 December 1883, Page 4

OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

A special general meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union was held at Wain's Hotel last evening j Mr J. P. Maltland in the ohair.

The ;flrst business transacted was the consideration of the advisability of becoming affiliated to the English Rugby Union. In connection with this matter, Mr Sleigh said there was a difficulty in the way, inasmuch as tho English Union contemplated a revision of the whole of thoir rules in Marah next. Then there Was abo the matter of Bdorlng by points* Th?y could not jMn tho English Union if they adoprcd that plan, for the Home Union hid j ear after year'determined to adhere to the old syslem of sco;lng. Mr Chapman slid that if a New Zealand Rug!-y t nion were formed, they would not be bound dowa to all the decisions of tho English Ui.i:n

Mr EoBtfiTSCN thought if it wa» at all feasible th3y should become aflilUttd to the English Rugby Union. Canter! ucy l7nion hud j dned Mr SL»i<jH was of sune opinion. If they had numerous unions iK-y wuuld have a variety of games. That wmM not be advisable, because in a year or two tluy might expect t>n English team out hero, or perhaps they w.uld send a team Homo.

Mr BoiiuvrsON remarked that before he left Home there wai ft proposal to send out a team to the c.)!i>aies, lut th-y had been told not to come, because the colonists played different games. Mr Chapman movjd, and Mr Marsbbanks seconded--'-That the question bo proposed for future ooiwidmtion, aiid that In tna meantime the E.-glish Union bo communicate.! with regarding tho alteration of rules and the latitude thty would be likely to allow in the matter of ■Bcorlng by points," etc.— Carried unanimously. The proposal to send a team to New South Waloß next seaon was thon coa»lde: ed. Tho Secretary read the following letter, which ho had received from Mr TV. V. Million, secretary of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union: -

I am intructcd to -.vrite to you with a view to amniring for thy visit o* a Now Zealand football team to New South Wales neit year, as, if anything is to be done in this respect, it will require taking in hand early, as the reason the proposed trip fell through last season was its beinsf put off too lato I would therefore submit the following as abasia for choosing a team, consisting of nineteen men—eight backs and eleven forwards'; Auckland to send three backs and two forwards, as their tour last year seemed to show that they were stronger behind tho scrummage than forward'; Otago to send two backs and thrco forwards, thoy having proved strong in the latter department especially; Wellington to contribute five mon—not more than threo forwards j leaving Canterbury to send four players to All up the team—if convenient, all forwards.

The matches played last year between the three first-named provinces wore exceedingly close and well contested, and it would ■ be difficult to say which is strongest. I have therefore suggested that they shou d each send an equal pirportion of men. Canterbury having proved weaker than any of tho other provinces, but yet fairly good forward, I have allotted as her oontingehfc four men only, and, If possiblo, all forwards.

If all the unions will work together, and send their contingents on some definite basis 6uoh as above susrsjested, thero neid bo uo difficulty In gotting together a very strong team of thoroughly-experienced players, who would drop into their respective places withouc a great deal of practice. The terun to be ready to leavo New Zealand not later than the middle of June, and some ono union should bo deputed to enter into negotiations with the New South Wales players without delay, and make all the necessary arrangements. I shall ho visiting both Wellington and Auckland at tho end of next month, and would most likely ha able to settle some definite plan of operations with their unions if you would let me know the opinions of your Union about tho proposed trip.

The terms expressed in Mr Millton'B letter were very favorably discussed by the delegates present. Mr Xouhbtson mentioned that last j'6ar representatives from Wellington, Canterbury, and Otftgo had mot in WelMogton, and Agreed that the team telection should bo on tho basis advocated by Mr Million. On the motion of Mr Sleigh it was rosolved —" That tho Otago Rugby Football Uni-n agree to the proposals emanating from the Canterbury Kugby'Pors'dwll Union re the trip to New South Wales ; and would suggest thst the Canterbury Rugby Football Unloi) make tho necessary arrangements, ihe Otago liugby Football Union offering every possible assistance." Thia conolu led the business of the meeting.