TARANAKI RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 March 1927, Page 4

TARANAKI RUGBY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In Monday’s issue of “The Star” 1 lead that the Athletic Club have had to change their colours. Do you think this is a fair go? Two years ago when the Athletic Club was formed, out of a number of colours the Rugby Union, decided that dark blue and light blue hoops were the most suitable colours. Now they wake up to the fact that they are similar to Waim.ate colours. Did it ever strike the Rugby Union whether Stratford and Okaiawa colours were similar when playing in the same division a few seasons back.. Whose fault is it that the Athletic and Waimate colours were similar? Athletic .had tho proper colours, but the Waimate jerseys had faded until they were the same as Athletic. Yet Athletic must suffer. A big . majority of the Athletic players are mere boys who earn at the most two pounds per week. Out of this they pay board, and football subscriptions, etc.. Now through an idiotic mistake of the Rugby Union, they have to buy jerseys and stockings, which will run almost into one pound. Don’t you think the. union should assist these boys? After .all they make the money for the union’s purse, and get more kicks and bruises than praise. Athletic have had an uphill fight from the start, and the assistance given by the union has been practically naught. Last season no Athletic players were good enough for the reps, (in the selectors opinion). Owen played for Athletic in the first half of the season, and then went to reside in Opunake and a fortnight after going to Opunake, the selector decided that Owen had no equal as a first five-eighth. lam not wishing to pick fault with the selector, but do you think Athletic are getting a fair go? Thanking you for your valuable space. I .am etc., BANK CRITIC.