BRITISH SPORT DENOUNCED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20563, 14 May 1930, Page 11

BRITISH SPORT DENOUNCED

PARIS JOURNAL'S ATTACK.

BRUTALITY OF RUGBY.

SEQUEL TO PLAYER'S DEATH

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright,

(Received May 13, 11.25 p.m.) PARIS, May 12

A remarkable denunciation of English sport which appears in the Journal des Debats is tho outcome of a recent death in a Rugby match. The journal says that if this "game of savages" is banished from civilised countries, the death of tho victim will not have been in vain.

English fathers, clergymen and heads of institutions have, it says, protested for years against this so-called sport, which is merely brutality. Tho newspaper asks how, in view of the fact that English newspapers used to publish the Rugby death roll, the game was ever allowed in France.

The article continues:—"lt i 3 not generally known in France that tho so-called popular sports in England aro no longer anything but spectacles, like the cinema and other commercial enterprises. The only unprofessional sports in England are fox-hunting and yachting. Both football and cricket aro played by professionals, all of whom gain enormous profits.

"It docs not matter whether the players aro killed or maimed, so long as there are big profits."

Tho Journal des Debats is 0110 of tho leading French daily newspapers. It is the oldest Conservative newspaper, founded in .1789, with Republican leanings, and has much influence. It has good literary and scientific articles and news. Tlio editor i 3 M. Fernand do lirinon. Tho foreign editor is M. Gauvain, a well-known and influential journalist.