THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 277, 28 May 1907, Page 4

THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS.

[By Telegraph.] (Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 27. Very general regret has been expiessed here at the prospect of New Zaland Rugby footballers entering the ranks of the professionals. The promoters of the team to visit the North of England are endeavouring to make out that they are not engaging in a money-making venture; but in view of the circumstances, the endeavour is not likely to be successful. For the credit of New Zealand all true sportsmen must hope that the promoters of the venture will think better of their proposal and abandon it altogether. Any team that could be sent Home under such ciicumstances will not be at aU representative and, when this fact comes to be made public at Home, and the team is disavowed by the New Zealand Rugby Union, the success of the toift- will undoubtedly be minimised. In regard to the proposed professional team, it is stated that before long the public wiU be taken fully into the confidence of the players, who do not wish to hamper the New Zealand Rugby Union in any way; but this is, of course, all moonshine. Such a tour and its results will be a very disturbing feature in New Zealand Rugby football, and must necessarily strike a very severe How at the purity of the game in the colony.