SIDELIGHTS ON RUGBY

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1913, Page 3

SIDELIGHTS ON RUGBY

By REV. W. B. SCOTT. (Soi« Selector Wanganui Rugby Union.) FINAL ARTICLE. The victory of Taranaki over Auck land in the Ranfurly Shield match was cause for great rejoicing down this way. We had no hope of gaining the shield for ourselves, although on one occasion Wanganui ran very close when Auckland just scraped in by 6 to 5, but we think our nextdoor neighbours from the dairy district were most entitled to annex the i honor from Auckland, who have held the shield for the last nine years. It is a good thing for Rugby that no one team should hold the shield too long. I quite expect to see it circulate a good deal during the next few years. In the meantime we offer our very hearty congratulations to Taranaki on their superb play and victory of last Saturday. According to Mr. Parata, the manager of the Maori team which recently toured Australia, we may look for a splendid exhibition of football from the visiting New South Wales team. They play their first match in New Zealand against Auckland on Wednesday, August 27. They are said to possess a magnificent set of forwards such as we have not seen since the famous All Blacks. If such a statement is correct we may look for some surprises during the team's visit to the Dominion. They are due to play Wanganui on Wednesday, September 3, and already a good deal of interest is being aroused in the match. This is due to the return to form of our boys, and the general public are looking forward to a struggle such as they have not seen for years. In any case the Corn- j stalks are not going to have such a runaway victory over the representatives of the River City as the Australian League team had over the j local League team this time last j year. j Apropos of the League game, if j the new regulation of the Home Union is correct, and is confirmed by the N.Z.R.U., it will mean that -many applications will be sent in for reinstatement into the ranks of Rugby. In- case the regulation has not been "seen in print, it is to the effect that all unions under the jurisdiction of the English Union may expell or suspend any player violating the rules with regard to professionalism. In the past any one of the offences mentioned could only be punishexl by expulsion (1) Receiving or relying on a promise, direct or implied, to receive monetary consideration for | services rendered; (2) knowingly playing with or against any expelled or suspended player or club'; (.'.',) knowingly playing or acting as referee or touch judge on the ground of an expelled or suspended club; (4) signing any form of the Northern Union. Now there is the alternative allowed of suspension. This will allow the unions concerned to try each case upon its merits. r " The League game is in its infancy in New Zealand, and in some places it is having a big struggle to keep afloat. It is now within the power of the N.Z.R.U. to re-admit practically every player desiring to be classed once more as amateur. It •will be interesting to see what will be done. In some places .the League game will be hit very hard under this new regulation. On the other hand the N.Z.R.U., as well as local

unions, are likely to be rather conservative in granting re-admission. In our own union we have already received an application for re-admis-sion. Although the case has not been decided at the time of writing it is improbable that the union will consider the application for the following reason:—The player in question played the League game and was expelled from Rugby. He went to a district where the League game was not being played, and he took on Rugby. This soon led to discovery, and the lodging of a protest. The result was that two games in which he took part have to be replayed. Under such circumstances it is not likely that any union wiU agree to reinstatement. In this matter every case will have to be tried upon its merits. In the southern districts there has been a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed over the selection of the Californian team. In Wellington, particularly, quite a battle royal has been waged over the matter, and there has been some straight talk- on the part of the chairman of the N.Z.R.U. management committee and the sole selector of the Wellington R.U. The outcome is that Mr. Meredith intends to pull out from Rugby at the end of the season. After all is said and done it must be admitted that Wellington was inadequately dealt with at receiving so few appointments to the team. On the other hand such unions as Wanganui, Southland, and West Coast have no representatives in the team at all. Speaking for myself as selector of the Wanganui Union, I am quite prepared to accept the decision of the selectors, although I would be willing —if I was a betting man—to back the three forwards I nominated against any other three forwards in the Dominion. Still, there is no use in growling. When we have enough men to enable three representative teams to be picked it naturally follows that some must be left out. I am satisfied that while no Wanganui men are in the team we still have a team thnt is representative of the Dominion. I bid my readers adieu. I trust that, these notes have been interesting, even if they have not been helpful, and when the next season comes round I hope you will again, with enthusiasm, join with me in singing, " On the ball, on the ball."