RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19500, 8 June 1925, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

OVERBEARING SCOTTISH UNION HABIT OF “BUTTING IN.” (From Otrn Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 1. In making charges against the Welsh Union regarding the training of players foe the match with the New Zealanders thf Scottish Rugby Union seem to have overreached themselves. It will be remembered that the Scottish Union accused the Welsh of making payment for broken time to those players who spent a lew days in training before the match. The action ol the Scottish Union has been universally condemned not only in Rugby circles in England, Ireland, and naturally Wales, but also in a very wide area outside a limited range in Scotland itself. “That very limited official circle,” writes Mercian in Sporting Life and Sportsman, “may not be the tiniest bit concerned. All the same, the Scottish Union, if we may judge by the evidence that has seen the light of dav, had no grounds at all for the aspersions that were cast over the leaders •of the game in another union. “The official statement which was issued as a sort of supplementary document to the report of the discussions over the proposed changes of the rules made-it clear that the Scottish Union were quite satisfied at the explanations given by Mr Horace Lyne, the Welsh president (whose reputation as a guardian of amateurism in sportis at least as high as any Scotsman’s), and Mr T. D. Schofield. “That being so, it seems incredible that any union should level such grave charges against another union without being very sure of their ground. It does not seem that the Scottish. Union have made known the source of their information upon which they acted, and it is suggested that when the Welsh Union hold their next annual meeting a demand shall be made upon the Scottish Union to disclose the identity of as apparently unreliable informant. A NEEDED LESSON. “One can hardly suppose that the Scottish Union would reiuse such information. Inti justice tp the Welsh Union theTeast they can do is to make the fullest possible amends. The Welsh Union may decide to take no further action in the matter, and may feel that good may come out of ungenerous intentions. They may think that the Scottish Union has been taught a needed lesson in the gentle art of minding its own business. “Further south and across the Irish Channel the spectacle of Scotland’s insistence upon being regarded as the international policeman, self-set up to safeguard the other unions, has hitherto been regarded' as a cause for amusement, but it is quite possible that Wales may feel the time has come to suggest to England and Ireland that they should inform Scotland tiiat they are quite capable of managing tljeir own affairs, without need of faulty detective work. The heavy responsibility imposed upon Scotland's finances by their - new ground places them in the hands, of. the other union’s a pretty useful weapon! “If Scotland tnink it is their duty to tell Wales that they have no right to spend: money upon special training for, special matches, it would seem only logical 1 that they should inform Oxford and Cambridge l that they have no right to go in for special training for their annual match. /The; principle is the same. And, when Scotland have to go across to France, would it not: be strictly logical for the other unions to suggest that the team should travel through the night before the gome and return immediately the match is over? \ “Implications such as have been made against the Welsh Union come at a par-., tioularly unfortunate time. At the best of times they give a lead to those people: who are always eager to jump at the sug-y gestion that the amateur game is open to suspicion. j FOUL PLAY CAMPAIGN. “It is an unfortunate fact that countries— Wales does not stand alone—are playing, or have played, in the recent past men who possess the reputation—to put it politely—of being unnecessarily vigorous, and of ■ being, in some cases, inclined to be too free with fists or feet, or both. Certain j selection committees would have risen in j in including this type of player in their the general esteem had they not persisted t j ranks, and I am quite sure if ■'Wales take,! the lead —as I believe they are likely lq;| do—itf excluding the rough player they will earn the gratitude of all in the game, j “It may be just as well to make it clear that the last thing Wales is out for is to do! what has been suggested is the object of a certain element in Scottish football—to make Rugby a game for the classes, and qot for the masses at all. Those who have seen most football know quite well, that the vast majority of working-class Rugby men play the game quite as cleanly and fairly as the players more fortunately placed in life. , . ~ “That aspect needs no stressing, but the point that does need emphasis is the 1 hope that Wales, or any other country that follows their example, will be encouraged m their attempt to purify play. Unfounded accusations as to the payment of broken time are not likely to help to any end. AN APOLOGY REQUIRED. The public are now informed that “Scotland have accepted the explanation of the Welsh Union,” and have now withdrawn the charge—without any word of regret. “This surely is not good enough,”: says “Touch Judge” in Sporting Life and Sportsman. • “The matter so far -as Wales is concerned is finished. So far as they or the 15 men under supicion are concerned the charge should not have been made. But Scotland, apparently on .mere hearsay evidence, the tittle-tattle perhaps of some peculiar indiviudal with a grievance, deem it their duty, without apparently making the slightest investigation ;of the, facts, to make a most serious accusation against a friendly union and now calmly desire to withdraw the charge. ’— Such a happening must not be allowed to rest here, Scotland, or rather the Scottish Union, must in some wav be taught a lesson that once and for all the other unions will not countenance such impertinent interference with their reputation. . ‘‘Twice have the Scottish Union attacked Wales in recent times—once two season* ago over the question of the presentation to the undefeated Newport players, which was a civic reception, and nothing to do with the Welsh Union, and now a direct attack against her sportsmanship, apd between these adventures in search of notoriety was the boycott of the New Zea. land team for some imaginary grievance. “It would appear that the time has arrived when the other unions should- make it clear to Scotland that she cannot indulge in haphazard accusations of an unfounded character against the honour and integrity of a sister i union. They must ' insist that it is not sufficient calmly to ‘withdraw the charge’ without explanation, but that this withdrawal must be accompanied bv a sufficient apology and an acknowledgment that the original accusation was not only false, but an impertinence.”