RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

A correspondent of the '“Daily Mail,'’ writing in . regard to Dr “Teddy” Morgan’s famous try when Wales heat the 1905 All Blacks says: “The winger was without doubt very fast, but tlie claim that he could do “evens’ for the hundred yards has never been proved, I saw liis famous try, and, in my opinion, a much slower tnan could have got in. The opening made by the cross-kick which Morgan fielded was simple to a really firstclass mpn. However, on one occasion, a Scottish wing man named Welsh, playing against Wales, intercepted a pass almost on his own line, and simply left Morgan standing, as it were, in the race for the line. Welsh could do, and did do, about 10 3-oseo for the hundred. Scotland' was well beaten on that occaaion, Welsh’s try being their only reply to a big score.” •■• • .

A seven-a-aide Rugby competition is to be played for the first time, in England. This is indirectly the outcome of the All, Blacks’ visit, for, although they did not play any seyen-a-side games in England, the point that this type of Rugby game had not previously been played in Britain was raised by several members of the team. The Middlesex County; Rugby Union has received special permission from the English Rugby Union to organise a tournament at Twickenli-ni on April SMth, in aid of the Middlesex Hospital. . The ““novelty” is expected to prove an unqualified success. Entries from clubs already total a large number, the Harlequins, Richmond, the Barbarians, several old boys’ combinations, and all the hospitals being represented. The winning team will gttin possession of Kinross Arber Cup for , a year, it being hoped to make the competition an annual event. The primo mover has been Dr *T. R. Russell-Car-gill, the old Edinburgh Academical forward, who Is, team secretary of Middle MX. ••a ' a

Sir Henry Braddqn, president of the Neyv Sounth Wales Rugby , Union, intends visiting England during the coming summer there. He may remain in the Old Land some time. As the head of Dalgety’a, Sir Henry’is a very busy l man, but' it is hoped ha will be able to spare time to get into touch, with, top,Rugby authorities over there; with o-Tiew to bringing Ahe ruling bodies in the two hemispheres closer- together (says a Sydney writer). Sir Henry is an old Otago full-back representative, so that he will he, .able to voice ' the more direct representation of New Zealand and Australian Rugby at headquarters of, the game, if he finds thfe tune.. He is as keen an admirer and judge of the game to-day as he 1 was when he came over with the 1884 New Zealand team, or later, when he played M skilfully for New South Wales ..• • , a

Already the clubs in Wellington are Mginmng to muster their-' forces for the forthcoming season. The annual meetings are being held, and at each of these there has been a fine display of enthusiasm. This year the Wellington representative team will make 1 a tour of the ..Sooth Island,, and ■ will * J S’ *° H *wke’s Bay, ftit Auckland' and Taranaki will be .-seen in action locally;

The New South Wales Rugby Union has, accepted the English Union’s invitation to recomrqehd to the International Board that a New Sbuth Wales team should tour the United Kingdom in 1927-28. This will give a fillip to the game- in New South' Wales, rat to have any chance of sneoesqwau -England heavier forwards will have to be developed than have repze. seated tbs State in reecent years* The backs should Tbe first-lass. Not only will Tommy Lawton he playing this season in Sydney, but A. O. Wallace, the Scottish international fcnd Oxford three-quarter- has returned, and he doubtless will be wearing the jersey of nis State in the approaching season. For the team to tour England, the ser-

Th° Blacks are likely to visit Melbourne in the coming Rugby Bea•9®* for, the Victorian Rugby League nae turned over to the Union code, and will play the 15-a-aide game in future. - ;

Kie decision to make the change was the annual general meeting of the Victorian Bugby: League,, when cor--respondent, the sfew * South Wales League and Australian Board of Control on the one side, and from the £ e V Zealan<3 and New South Wales goghy Unions on the other, was placed before the meeting. By a large majonty .it was decided to wind up. the Victtorian Rugby League and to affiliate. with the New Zealand and New South Wales Unions as a Rugby

Not only will the All Blacks play in Melbourne after the New South Wales tour, hut there is every likelihood that one of the test matches of the *?”«? with New South Wales tour wiJl .De played in Melbourne, for the purpose of educating the Victorian m to the possibilities. ' Nolle of the present Victorian players has received anything ;for playing the game, ao there should be do trouble in having status restored. It is possible that thb New South Walea and New Zealand Unions will put an organiser in the field (as the Australian League Board of . Control hM done in the past), and that they will give financial assistance towards “oouri?? a new ground. There is a flourishing club of - New Zealanders in Melbourne.

Eton is taking Rugby seriously, and has decided to enter ’ the inter-colle-giate aeries. ,

Poet in the scrum! A. Gonnet, French intern’ational Rugby forward since 1921, in addition to being a hooker of no mean ability, is considered to be one of the leading French writers of the day; in fact, he is a poet. U’s time he wrote a book on Rugby, for most players in Europe ■eem .to.

Another blow at a great Australian Industry 1 An elaborate two-up school occupying the whole -of the ton floor of a factory „m King street, Sydney, and fitted with electric lights) and fans; was raided by over 30. police. Completely surprised, the whole of the 80 players'were arrested. At one end of the “school” there was a boxing ring and punching bag for the entertninmens of the players, and a seller of Frankfurts, rolls and soft drinks did a roaring trade in another corner. • * '» » W. T Tilden, American national to op is champion, will not retire from the game until ho is defeated; neither will be turn professional. “I do not approve of champions‘in any snort retiring undefeated,” Tilden said. ’"lt is not to the test interests of t-lie fcame or fair to my succesior to do otherwise. I would not have wanted to win my first championship that way. and I believe others l ave the same feeling. I expect to go on playing through the. national chompionshins until some player proves hie self better than I am.”