RIVAL RUGBY CODES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18278, 20 December 1922, Page 11

RIVAL RUGBY CODES.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY.

POSITION OF LEAGUE TEAM. There were very interesting developments this month in connection with University football in Australia. As a result it is practically certain that no more University teams from the Commonwealth playing under the Rugby League code will visit New Zealand. The University Sports Union at Sydney has refused the application for affiliation made by the University Amateur Rugby League Club. Recently the Sports Union made a request "to the Senate—that the League Club be prevented :from ) using the name " Svdney University," because the students "who played with that club would not be eligible for membership of the Sports Union. Arising out of this request the Senate appointed a Bubcommittee to meet representatives of bath these bodies. Mr. Justice Street pointed out that the newer club should make the advance, and advised the League body to applv for affiliation, and thus *' do the bisr "thing." He was supported bv the other Senate representative. Sir Henry Braddon (president of the New Smith Wales Rugby Union), who admitted that the League game was permanently established at the University. The Sports Union has complete control over its affiliated bodies, and there was very little enthusiasm and some opposition within the League Club to the making of the application, as many members feared placing the future of their already successful club in the hands of a body which had often 6hown what they regarded as unreasonable opposition." The desire to "do the big thing." however, prevailed, and the application was made. The decision is in these terms: —"That the application bo refused, on the ground that there is at present an undoubted element of professional control in the government of the New South Wales Rugby League, and that it is not in the best interests of university sport that a constituent club of the Sports Union should take part in a game in which any element of professional control is present. The Sports Union points out that this resolution does not debar a future application for affiliation, should the conditions surrounding this question be changed." From tho resolution it will be seen that the Sports Union objection is now not to the club itself, all of whose claims are impliedly admitted. The Sports Union's obiectinn is to having as a mother-in-law the New South Wales Rugby League. The University League members point out that from the viewpoint of strict amateur sport the same objection could be made to the New South Wales Cricket Association, which is recognised by the Snorts Union. The members of the University Amateur League Club who toured New Zealand received only tho Amateur Sporting Federation allowance of 5s a day, whereas it is known that University cricketer?, members of the Sports Union, who have toured in Victoria and South Australia, invariably accepted tho New South Wales Cricket Association's allowance, which is in excess of 5s a day.