A RUGBY EXPERIMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18717, 20 August 1924, Page 6

A RUGBY EXPERIMENT

CUTTING REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. BAD EFFECT CLAIMED. [Pek United Peeps Association.] WELLINGTON, August 20. In consequence of the contention that too many outside matches are being played, to the prejudice of local club matcnes, a theory which found an echo in other places ns well as in Wellington, the Rugby Union decided this season to confine its attention to club matches, only one or two representative matches having been palyed so far, and in each case practically junior teams were put in the field. According to one authority the result of these tactics has been exactly the opposite of what was expected. It is claimed that never before has so little interest been taken in club matches, and not for many years has the standard of play here been so low. Against this may be urged the fact that for eleven successive weeks rain fell every Saturday and kept the public away; but it is a fact that no Wellington side has had any practice together, and in the representative matches now coming on the men will be entirely raw and without combination. This is contrasted with the numerous games the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay men have had the opportunity of playing.