SCOTLAND V. ALL BLACKS

Evening Star, Issue 19698, 27 October 1927, Page 2

SCOTLAND V. ALL BLACKS

THE HEW ZEALAND BOYCOTT EXPLANATION FROM EDINBURGH As Hie result of a Rugby controversy which some months ago took place through the medium of the ‘ Evening Star ’ Snorts Special, the following letter has been received by one of the correspondents from “Diogenes,” who writes “ Random Reflections ” for the Edinburgh ‘Evening News.’ “Diogenes ” puts forward the reasons for the long-drawn-out dissension between the Scottish Rugby Union and the Now Zealand Union, and also the periodical tiffs between Scotland and England. From tho tone of his letter it can bo seen that tho general wish in Scotland is that tho unfortunate series of misunderstandings should be forgotten, and that in the future the Rugby players of Scotland and New Zealand should meet again in friendly rivalry. May this bo so.

“1 am enclosing you cuttings from tho ‘ Evening News 1 of a recent date, when, on tho strength of some papers scat mo by a New Zealand Scot, 1 made reference to the Now Zealand-Scotland feud lam rather loth to go into tho matter further, hut seeing you have asked for my view with regard to the origin of tho ‘ ban ’ I shall state it as briefly as possible, and if you think any good purpose can bo served you can send this letter to the ‘ Star ’ for publication. “Our understanding has always been that when tho New Zealand team of 19015 was coming to this country tho Scottish Union were asked by tho English Union to give the All Blacks a match or matches. Tho Scottisli Union wore engaged at that time in what was then tho novel and, possibly, trying undertaking of financing a ground scheme (luverleith), and as their financial commitments were considerable, they refused to give the All Blacks a guarantee, but offered them tho ‘ gate,’ less expenses. The All Blacks, our understanding always has been, took away a considerable sum from Edinburgh. Nobody grudged them a penny of this. Our only regret was that a Scottish fifteen that was practically scratch in its composition, was beaten by the best trained fifteen over put into the field in Scotalncl. That, however, is neither hero nor there.

“In January, 1909, the Scottish Union intimated that_ they could not fulfil their fixture with England in March. The correspondence that had passed between the two unions was published, and it showed that ‘only now' (1909) had the Scottish Union learnt, in response to a request made in October, 1907, for the accounts of the All Blacks’ tour, that each member of tho team, ‘ in addition to being allowed every possible expense, had received an allowance of one guinea per week.’ This ‘ allowance ’ the Scottish Union regarded as tanamount to professionalism, and in order that the matter might ultimately come before am international board of equal numbers, the Scottish Union did not make a ‘ dispute ’ of tho question. They made a ‘rupture.’ “Tho English Union passed a resolution to the effect that in future tours no allowance be paid to players, hut that ail extra expenses be met._ by tho managers of the tours. On this basis, and ou the understanding that all future tours bo arranged through tho international Board, the ‘rupture’ was disposed 01, and the 1909 match was played. “ Come we now to the second All Blacks. Tho tour was arranged by the English Union without consultation with tho other Home unions. Thiswas regarded in Scotland as a breach of the undertaking, and the Scottish Union declined to take any cognisance of the visit. The general feeing of tho Scottish Rugby community and of the Scottish public was one of profound regret that there should be any suspicion of a breach between any sections of the Scottisli and the New Zealand communities, and had the public sentiment been considered the apparent irregularity would have been overlooked and the All Blacks would have been invited to Scotland. As a matter of fact, feeling ran so high for a time that there was a talk of the All Blacks being invited to Scotland in spite of tho Scottish Uinion. However, the matter never came to a head, and Scottish enthusiasts contented themselves with going to England and seeing the All Blacks in action there. “ Tho fact that tho Waratahs are playing four matches in Scotland—their tour having been arranged by the four Home unions—is accepted hero as an indication that no further misunderstandings between the Homo unions will take place, that no further irregularity will bo committed by our friends tho English Union, and that should a further All Black visit take .place some years lienee they would visit Scotland in the ordinary course, and get the warmer welcome because it was so long deferred.

“ Meantime, let mo say that mischief can he done by newspaper correspondents ‘rushing into print,’ writing from memory. 1 notice that one letter writer says, apropos of tho Bedell-Siv-right tour, and of an alleged question of allowances, Hint ‘I fancy the la to Bndcll-Sivright did not again represent Scotland.’ The said tour took place in 191)1. Sivright played for Scotland in ]9oo-(l-7-8. One of his matches was against the New Zealanders at luvorleith.”