RUGBY TOURS

Evening Star, Issue 19126, 18 December 1925, Page 13

RUGBY TOURS

TO AND FROM FRANCE The proposed visit by a Maori team to Franco and the invitation of the Mow Zealand Rugby Union to the French Rugby Federation to send a team to New Zealand have created mi/cb interest in French Rugby circles, at:cordiug to information received by this week’s mail from England. The idea of the Maori tour was brought to tho notice of the Now Zealand Rugby Union some time ago by representatives of tho Maori Advisory Board, and the wishes of the Maoris were subsequently conveyed to the French Rugby authorities, as also was tho invitation to Franco to send a team to Now Zealand in the 1927 season. In reply to a request for particulars concerning both tours, Mr Cyril Rutherford, secretary of the French Rugby Federation, stated that it was not quite correct to say that the players from tho Antipodes asked to come to Franco. “They wrote me,” he said, “in substance; '* Invite us to come to France in 1926; organise a tour; wo will come; we wish to negotiate with you direct.’” Mr Rutherford added that the tours would be undertaken, and that for tho Maoris a dozen matches, more perhaps, would ho arranged in France, and the team would then bo passed on to Great Britain, on condition of part payment by Great Britain of travelling expenses. This was exactly as England did with Franco on the occasion of the tour of tho 1924 New Zealand team. It was Mr Rutherford’s intention to ask the clubs if they could receive the players from the Antipodes—a tour by a New South Wales team also being probable —and what they wore prepared to offer. Tho federation would undertake three big matches—with France, the South of Franco, and Paris, for example. In view of the fact that the Australians and the Maoris both desired to pav Franco a visit in 192 G, Mr Rutherford said that ho might ask tho Maoris to defer their visit until 1927. He had no doubt that they would be a big attraction, and ho had received word to that effect from the chairman of tho New Zealand Rugby Union (Mr S. S. Dean), who in the course of a letter stated: “Tho Maoris can get np a strong turn-out worthy of a New Zealand team. Their play is fast and pleasing, their spirit excellent. Many of tho players are of Nepia’s class.” ! Pointing out that New Zealand s invitation for a French team in 1927 was very plain, Mr Rutherford said that that tour seemed to him quite possible. “Two years ago,” ho remarked, “all the selected players had accepted. It is probable it will bo the same again. The French team will leave in’ May and return early in October, 1927.' Jt will play twenty matches in the Antipodes—seventeen in New Zealand and three in Australia. One word more. England is not going to Now Zealand, and the All Blacks are very dissatisfied. Also, they insist most emphatically that we should pay them a visit. Diplomatists are concerning themselves. _ ’The question of propaganda comes into play. Everything ns to accept. In reply to a final question Mr Rutherford indicates that ho would probably bo one of the party to visit New Zealand.