RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20859, 29 April 1931, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

DELEGATES IN WELLINGTON,

IMPORTANT MEETING TO-DAY

DECISION ON RULES AWAITED

Delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union in Wellington to-day will be called upon to decide the question as to which rules the game shall played under in the Dominion during the coming winter. The English Rugby Union has sent an ultimatum to the New Zealand Union that / all matches must be played under international rulgs, and it remains to be seen ,whether the delegates will agree or not. It is a well-known fact that some of

the men in control of the game in WcllI ington have been hankering for a reversion to the 9ld rules for some time, and a suggestion has been made that Mr. Baxter was put wise as lo the move he should adopt on returning to the .Old Country. Hence / the present ultimatum! If 6uch be the case it is to be hoped tho delegates will turn a deaf car to the proposal, but, on the other hand, if it be only a rumour, then the delegates will have to give the matter much consideration. The position is, indeed, -nil awkward one, as New Zealand has so many things to consider in/coming to a decision. First of all it, must be remembered that the game has made rap:? brides-since the amended rules were adopteu - _jw years ago, and /here is a strong current of feeling that it will be a retrograde step to turn baik to the old rules again. - Interests With Australia.

By adopting international rules New Zealand will come into,, line with Great Britain, Franco and. South Africa, and may get representation on the International Board. But what good will come out of direct representation on the latter body is difficult to foresee. Literally speaking, New Zealand lias little in com mop with the Rugby nations which are grouped round England. 'lho Dominion's greater interests lie with .Aus fralia, its nearest and most friendly Rugby neighbour. , - The decision of the delegates at Wellington to-day will have an important bearing on the 'game in the Commonwealth. Queensland and Victoria have gone ahead this year with the amended rules. Ju» fact, How cpuld Queensland possibly revert to old ' rules ? The State has just made a remarkably popular re-entry into the Rugby' world, and any interference with the rules at this juncture would once more sound the death knell of the game in the Northern Territory. New South Wales is practically in the came • position, and this State, also, cannot afford to lose the grip it. has on the Rugby game tq-day." What, then, will be .Australia's position if New Zealand fails into line with the unions in the Old Country? Interchanges of tours with Australia arc always popular with New Zealanders. The Australians invariably play a bright, open game, ■which is pleasing to the public, while, from the point of view of the players,, tours of Australia could be undertaken by New Zealanders without jeopardising their positions at work. Leading Rugby Country.

New Zealand roust, be regarded as one ; of the leadinjg Rugby countries of tlie ' world. if not the leading one. That is no doubt the reason why so many people say it should take a hand in the government ,of the game at Home. On the contrary, there is quite a large body of opinion 7 in favour of the Dominion standing on its own as a separate union. If the delegates took this latter view in Wellington to-day .they would not be doing the gamp a scrap of harm in the southfern hemisphere. Australian teams would exchange visits Zealand sides, and the Springboks would still be anxious to come oticrj, again. As regards the Home unions they may or may not wish to .continue exchanges of visits. But in any case these visits have been in the past at, 20-year intervals, and so. from a playing point of view, it does not reallv matter a great deal. .Seeing that the All Blacks - and the Waratahs have clone so miicli for Rugby in the Old Country, however, one would think the Internatinnal' Board would hafdlv feel so grieved as to refuse to have teams fiom either of the Dominions in future. Strong for Retention. Canterbury ip strong for the retention of the amendments to the game. So is Hawke's Bay. The Auckland delegates / • have been given a free hand, and their feelings ai/ef well known. Auckland started the amended rules in New Zealand, and the delegates will not let go of them without a big fight. The unions mentioned have been three of the strongest in the Dominion for eome year? past, and their opinions should carry more weight than may be accorded them to-day. Wellington and Otago will hold some, sway, but in their cases they have not the strong opposition of a rival game, and so it is much easier for them to argue and perhaps at the same time influence the delegates from the minor unions. , All Rugby eyes will be on the columns of to-morrow morning's paper to see what decision has been arrived 'at in regard to .this all important question of the hour. 'Australia, too, .will be anxiously awaiting the decision. . 1 Profits from British Tour. Among other items to be discussed by the delegates to-day will be the distribution, if any, of the profits of the British team's tour last season. These amount to nearly £22,000. The \Vellington Union has given notice of motion that the sum shall be divided the affiliated unions and the parent body. This motion is likely to be accorded n good deal of support by the minor unions. The New /Zealand Union, however, is fully alive to the requirements of Hawke's Bay. and there are other unions badly in need of financial assistance. Other matters of importance will he the arranging of inter-provincial games for the coming season In view of the financial depression there is likely to be a curtailment of tours by all the unions. The broadcasting of club and representative matches as well as those of the Australian team's torn through New Zealand. ) will no. doubt provoke a good deal of '.discussion. The Australian visit is really the only one concerning the parent body, and in other instances it will probably be left to the unions controlling the club and inter-provincial matches to come to a decision.