RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TEAMS FROM ABROAD ARRANGEMENTS DISCUSSED INTER-ISLAND FIXTURE [n\* TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Delegates to tho annual meeting of tho New Zealand Rugby Union appointed the Hon. James McLeod (Tnranaki) chairman, tho presidential chair being vacant owing to the recent death of Mr. D. M. Stuart (Otago). Mr. McLeod spoke of tho recent tour of Great Britain, and of the New Zealand University team's visit to Japan, and said, all told, the past year had widened the scope of Rugby. They could look forward to the days ahead as likely to bring oven greater interest in the game. Mr. S. S. Dean, in response to a question, assured Mr. G. A. Maddison tllawke's Bay) that a visit from Japan was a distinct possibility, and there was also under consideration a visit from. Canada. Mr. J. Prendeville (Wellington) said that, while not wishing to sound a discordant note, he would urge tho New Zealand authorities to pause and consider before extending tho programme of tours. At present New Zealand had Great Britain and South Africa. There was great difliculting in fitting in tours. Care should be taken not to upset club and provincial football by having extra tours. There was no doubt local football was upset by tours. South Africa had been most emphatic in having a clear season between tours and visits. Arrangements for future tours, as planned at the Imperial Rugby Conference, London, were mentioned by Mr. Dean, who said it had taken a considerable amount of thought and time to work out a scheme suitable to all parties. The programme, as set out in the annual report, would enable countries to know wherfe they stood in regard to tours for the next 12 years, and ho strongly recommended its adoption. In regard to tho North Island v. South Island match it was decided to endorse the suggestion that it be played at Christchurch on August 15, Several delegates expressed the view thut tho North-South match should b« regarded as a trial, and.be played a week before New Zealand's first test match, tho team to bo kept together for a full week: