RUGBY LEAGUE TOUR

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE TOUR

AUSTRALIAN PROPOSALS MOVE TO “BUY” RUGBY PLAYERS CHANCES IN NEW ZEALAND. Details of the proposals of the New South .Wales Rugby League in regard to a proposed tour of New Zealand came xo hand by mail on Monday,- and according to Mr Claude Corbett, writing in the Sydney Sun, there is not much doubt about an Australian. team; coming to .New Zealand in September, bur.it will depend upon the form shown by its players when the Dominion will be invited to send a side to Australia.

Tlie New South Wales Rugby League delegates at a meeting last week, decided to recommend to the Board of Control the sending of a team, and that two months ahead of mail whose opinions would be respected should be sent to New Zealand to assist in the. organisation of the tour.

Mr H. F. Beuning, who made the latter part of the proposal, said be had such a man in mind—one who had done a tremendous, amount to foster the game in Australia and other parts of flic world where Rugby League was being played. If it was found necessakjy .such a man should have authority to buy Rugby Union players of merit.

The secretary, Mr H. R. Miller, •. in a report, contended that some effort should be made to make possible an inter-change of visits between Australia and New Zealand. “Football followers,” be declared, “desire a change of entertainment from annual visits by Queensland. It will be generally conceded that New Zealand is worth cultivating. “We should keep on persevering with New Zealand, as there is no doubt, iigures show that the public

has become tired of the same old bill of fare. The necessity for new attractions is absolutely essential and oiir one great chance of getting that is from New Zealand.” Mr Miller recommended the promotion of a challenge cup competition between New South Males, Queensland and New Zealand, on the basis that New South Wales and Queensland should meet once in Sydney and Brisbane and that New Zealand should play the States twice in the two capitals. The team with the best record would hold the cup. the competition to be financed by a deduction of 5 per cent, front the matches, and a further o per cent. to be distributed among the States and New Zealand. The allowance to players would be a matter for arrangement and should be the same among, the. competing teams. Ho suggested that New Zealand should visit Australia in either the months of July or August this year. Those months would' be 'more suitable than May. as the form of, the players would bo exposed by that time. " "" N.X Another proposal made by Mr Miller was that- a coach-trainer be sent to New Zealand to assist in the preparation and selection of the team, or, as an alternative, the New Zealanders could arrive in Sydney not later than 10 days prior to the first match to- undergo a systematic and intensive course of training. A representative should be sent to New Zealand to investigate organisation and administration of New . Zealand football, and to furnish.a rqpoFf by which it would probably, be placed upon a footing. V