ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 3

ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS.

[From Our Special Cobbesfondent.] LONDON", March 6. The names of the British Rugby team. going out to Now Zealand and Australia next month was published this week. It diffars very slightly from the list which I sent yon some weeks ago, but one or two alterations have had to be made since, then. Among the backs. Griffiths (Monmouth) and J. Davey (Cornwall) have joined the team, a.nd "imrie has dropped out. F. Jackson (Cornwall) and I'. Wilson (Cumberland) have joined the forward brigade, while Boylan has retired. The following is tho official list: J- 0. M. Dyke (Penarth, Coventry, and Wales) and E. J. Jackett (Cornwall and England), backs; F. E. Chapman (Durham), R. A. Gibbs (Glamorgan and Wales), J. L. Williams (Glamorgan and Wales), R. B. Griffiths (Monmouth), J. Ponty Jones Monmouth and Wales), J. P. Jones (Kent and Guy's Hospital), P. F. M'Evedy (Kent), H. H. Vassall (Oxford -University and England), three-quarter backs; J. Davey (Cornwall), H. Laxcn (Midland Counties), W. Morgan (Kent and London Welsh), and G. L. Williams (Lancashire), half-backs; \L Archer (Guy's Hospital and ■Somerset), R. Dibble (Somerset and England), P. J. Down (Somerset), R. K. Green (Glamorga.n), A. F. Harding (London Welsh ami Wales), F. Jackson (Cornwall), G. V. Kvrke (Somerset), E. Morgan (Glamorgan), W. L. Oldham (Midland Counties), J. A. S. Eitson (Northumberland), L. S. Thomas (Glamorgan). J. F. Williams (London Welsh and Wales). T. Wilson (Cumberiand), and T. Smith (Leicester), forwards.

The party number twenty-eight, of whom nine arc internationals. The team have been organised by Mr George H. J I,mutt. °f Kent- County."a member of the llughy I'uioii Committee, who will act as mauage.r. The other officials will he, A. F. Harding- (captain) and P. T. M'Kvedv (vice-captain). Originally it was hoped to include players from Scotland and Ireland, hut the unions of these countries have set their faces against Rugbv tours on the ground that thev tend to'profnssionalisrn. 'lhe colore are red-and-white, with a narrow edging of blue, and the. team will, according to present airan-'o-ments, sail for Wellington by the Shaw. Savill Shipping Companv's s.s. Atheme on I'riday, April 3 next. Much ditliculty has been experienced in getting together anything like a fativo team, through the attitude of the Scottish and Irish Unions, and the side going out includes no Scottish and Irish players. The list now published .mould bo capable of yielding a strong fifteen under a captain of so much spirit and experience us A. F. Harding; but il is of necessity something of an experimental team, and there will be. perhaps, v. little disappointment that brilliant pLave.-s are not plentiful in the partv. R. A. Gibbs (of Cardiff) and H. IT. Vassal! (of Oxford) are tho great "class" plavers bohml the sci-umma-ge. and tho element that must be relied on to make tho touT a success will Ix> the forwards. These have been obvioesly chosen on the experiences of th New Zealand team who toured under 1). Gailaher's ca.ptainship two years ulo. and the powerful and hard of the West and North of England and South Wales should hold their own against the sturdy type of player commonly "associated with New Zealand. Half-back seems tobe the weak spot in the party. H. Laxcn. the old Cambridge Blue, and W. Moi'iraii belong to what is colloquial.lv known" as the "nippy" species of half-back; W. J. Davey has done well for Cornwall as a "stand-off." and Gerald Williams, it is understood, was reserve for Eruland la.st season. There is a great amount of variety on the three-quarter line, and the hillbacks are Ijoth veiy trustwoithy. Whatever the misgivingiT about the constitution of_ the side, the players all possess the spirit of the game, and are sure to pull together under the influence of the manager, Mr Harnett. It will be noticed that only two members of the combination that toured in Australasia in 1904—nameiv, tho New Zealander P. F. M'Evedy and '"• Cuptain" Harding—are included "in Mr Harnett's party.