RUGBY IN SYDNEY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1925, Page 1

RUGBY IN SYDNEY

I’ XI(.) X V SIIO!'' LI) A WAK EX. (" The Cynic ” in the “ Referee.”) “The Rugby Union football on Saturday (June R!) was nothing like what we saw in the corresponding match a year ago, when the -ill Blacks were starting on their historic career, if Xew South Wales could only produce players (it to stand up to the All Blacks 1. believe the brightened old game would make a big recovery. What becomes of those great young school lmys we see every year;'" Tims spoke on Saturday a Rugby giant of other days.

11 Rugby football in X’ew South Wales had not been split by the inroads of the ' thirteen-aside game and its professionalism, the tilts between Xew Zealand and Xew South Wales by this time would have been unrivalled in pieturcsqueiiess and in point of public attraction among purely Colonial sporting events, apart from -great things in the racing world. Unhappily the split came. It might

have become but an episode for a year ir two, but for introduction by the ate A. IT.. Huskerville, of Xew Zealand, of the thirteen-asid'e game, with ts greater thrills and lure for the ■ruwds. and its popularity with the •layers, notably those skilled in all the Kilished phases ol play. For main rears the League handled mini hers ni superb players, who gave the game a Rumour never excelled in any form, ol foot hall in any part of ihc world. But the League appears to have its limitation as a producer of great players wholly through lack of vise n in club controlled liv players who divide the profits leaped I rout t lie gates. The League Rugby, handled by amateurs •ml regulating professionalism, would

be a wonderful game for Australia, rivalling cricket, perhaps, in ils uni versa I hold, and Australian loolbal! in feverish grip m its strongholds. One believes, however. Ilial il the Rugby Union game, now improved by up-10-datc laws, were organised in this Stan* with greater thoroughness, the vouniiMi plnyors <jf ami physical liinoss, niihnvd. coarhc'd suid built up by km*n mutrli pluy between thoroughly condilionod Uuuns, the old

go Mil* would take hold of the public ill ils representative matches as firmly as ever. Hut this will never he done while the officials in Sydney arc content to pul into the field against the redoubtable Xew Zealanders teams in which veterans who have lost their elasticity on the one side and lighttimboi'cd players, unsound defensively, on the other, wear Hie Blue jersey.

The Rugby Union is a great game. The. basis of ils control is that on which every national game should rest. And there is no reason whatever why the game should not regain its old

glories whenever Now Zealand meets New South Wales, if the chilis will insist on physical fitness in their teams ami the State selectors discard the idea that tiggy-iuiichwood tackling has any match-winning value in lirsl-class loothall.

Youth, weight, strength, pace and skill are essentials. Ihil you would not think so il you saw the Flues against the Silver-I'erned you no men last Saturday. The Rugby L'nion should awaken from its slumber and produce a fifteen worthy of its strength, one that when the hour crimes will make the Frenchmen go lor their lives. The players are to lie found—why not seleel them?