RUGBY AND ART

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12039, 17 January 1925, Page 4

RUGBY AND ART

What grace there .is in the playing of strenuous Rugby it has been left to a - Frenchman to discover. The All -Blacks played strenuous Rugby in England, Ireland, and Wales, in matches many and various—in all before eyes blind to the artistic side of things. ■ Our young men, of grand physique, fine proportion, and prodigious agility, evoked stolid criticism,; and some unjust “booing.” But in their first match;in Paris they revealed their merits to- the French artistic eye. And we have a’rhapsody of their graceful work, the great power of their well-balanced bodies, undisturbed by violence of motion, their fine pose, never destroyed by the rapidities of athletic combat. This representative and controller of French art called his countrymen’s attention to the revelation in terms of great enthusiasm, and declared he would make use ref it in the development of his artistio work. Rut there is nothing new under the sun. • The perfection ref Greek art was reached through ' the splendid forms, noble poses, and graceful swiftness developed before the eyes of admiring thousands 'on the athletic fields. The same service was done, in the days of the 'Renaissance; when every sinan.Carried a sword, and had! to he daily diligent in. the practice of its use,-keeping - himeeft in the fit , condition necessary to a man whosA life might depend at any moment -on a test ref endurance. In these two' fields were acquired perfection of condition and command of balance with all the rapid foot, arm, and body work conceivable. The fact was a great help to the /-sculptors and: painters, and a fine instruction in grace of form and line to the people in general. It is pleasing to find; - artistio authority stressing • this idea -;for-the AH Blacks, ’declaring that they, in’-teaching'Rugby to‘ the world, are /raising the standard of artistic taste, and giving back to sport the advantage ,it. derived of. old from its practice.