COMING RUGBY SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 5

COMING RUGBY SEASON

EFFECTS OF WAR CLUB FOOTBALL MAY BE WAIVED NEW ZEALAND CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS The Rugby season is still several mouths off, but one who can even now see" the writing on the wall is Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Council. He was not unnaturally pessimistic when interviewed by the ‘ Sports Post ’ last week. Actually the war and its forthcoming effect on Rugby have not been considered by the council yet, but it is obviously a question that will have to be thoroughly thrashed out in the near future. Mr Dean indicated that he had not the slightest conception of what,, the attitude of the council and of the associations might be regarding Ranfurly Shield matches next winter. But personally he was of the opinion that they would in all probability go by the board. For one thing, he said, public interest in sport was on the wane (this, he considered, was reflected in the recent Plunket Shield cricket series), and as already inroads had been made in the personnel of the provinces’ footballers, there was no saying just how great the depletions might be in a few months’ time. Stressing the fact that his remarks were purely his own views, Mr Dean added that probably club football, too, would be waived in the coming season. “ The fact remains,” he said, “ that as far as the New Zealand Rugby Council is concerned there is only one matter of importance, occupying its horizon. That is the war. “ Rugby football in comparison is a matter of the most trifling importance. It is onr duty as a controlling body to see that Rugby footballers throughout the country do their share in the crisis. Naturally we will have to fall into line with every other sporting organisation in the Dominion.