FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12729, 12 April 1904, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE ENGLISH TEAM’S TOUR. LONDON, April 10. The Rugby football team visiting Australia will’extend their tour to New .Zealand.

Mr G. W. M‘Arthur is busily engaged here, (says an English writer) in his capacity of representative of the New South Wales Rugby Football Union, in getting together a team of our best men for a tour in Australia. Acting, of course, with the full approval of the English Rugby Union, he has invited applications from any who are willing to go, and has also sent to a considerable number of the finest players of the day a letter couched in the following terms:—“ Dear Sir, The Rugby Union has granted me permission, as representative of New South Wales Union, to raise a team, with their help, which will go out to Australia this spring. It is intended that the team should leave England not later than early May, probably the 13th, arrive in Sydney about June 16, have ten weeks in Australia, leaving there the end of August, and arriving home the end of September, or the first week in October. If New Zealand, however, is visited, an extra fortnight would be required. All the expenses of the team, including an allowance for daily out-of-pocket expenses,’ will be paid by the New South Wales Union. Members of the team will travel out together first class by one of the recognised liners, but can prolong their stay in Australia, at their own expense, beyond the date fixed for return if desirous of doing so, and can return home at date to suit their personal convenience, with the ticket provided without extra payment for so doing. Those who visited Australia with Mr Mullineux’s team thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and were loud in their praise of the hospitable way in which the Australians treated them. ’ I feel sure the same courtesies will be shown to the members of this team, and the visit will always be looked back to with pleasure. I would be glad to have an expression of opinion from you as to whether, if chosen, you would be likely to accept the invitation to join the team. As a definite reply has to be given to the New South Wales Union by March 10th, the time is very short. I would, therefore, be glad of as early a reply as possible.— Yours, etc., W. W. McArthur.”

DANNEVIRKE CLUB. The Dannevirke Football Club intend to open the season on Wednesday afternoon, when a match will be played between teams representing Seniors and Juniors.