RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19783, 7 May 1926, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NEW ZEALAND UNION. PROGRESS OF THE GAME. (Feb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 6. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held to-day. Mr S. S. Deans (president) occupied the chair. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The President said that the game had made great progress in tho Dominion, and in New South Vtales it had also been popularised. Tho speaker said he hoped that Rugby would again bo the pre-eminent game there. They could expect a visit trom a French side next year, and it was expected that the Frenchmen would play in as many of the small centres as possible. The acceptance by France of the Maori team was welcome. Encouragement of the game in the outlying districts would be their aim, and assistance would be given to minor unions desiring help from tho parent body. It had been definitely arranged that New Zealand would send a Rugby team to South Africa in 1928. The grants made to school football had been substantial. This year the union had decided to increase the grant for the purpose stated to £6OO, if the Management Committee could see its way clear to grant that amount. The balance sheet showed a loss of £960, but he stated that that included items which could rightly be debited against the 1924 season’s accounts. Mr (Prendevilla said that not many details were given of oversea tours. It was decided that in future a full balance slicet would be placed before the meeting. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral; president, Mr M. M’Davitt- vicepresidents, the presidents of affiliated unions; treasurer, Mr Wylie; Management Committee —Messrs H. Leith, A. Kitto, W. Hornig, T. Flotcher, C. Mulaney, E. Mackenzie, and S. Dean. IMPERIAL ADVISORY BOARD. The failure of the Home authorities to form an Imperial Advisory Board and to give the Dominion Rugby Union a voice in the control of the game, as far as tho international aspect is concerned, was received with disappointment. A further endeavour is to be made to have an Imperial Advisory Board set up. Mr Dean said he thought that if a man were sent Home this year ho would be able to press the matter so that the board would become an accomplished fact. It was time New Zealand had a full say on the governing body. He thought in addition to the manager of the Maori team, another man should be attached to the party for the purpose of attending the International Conference. The Management Committee was empowered to appoint a delegate. ASSISTANCE FOR VICTORIA. A proposal to foster the game in Victoria met with criticism. Mr Adams (West Coast) said that while the union was fostering the game in Victoria it should not lose sight of the struggle some of the smaller unions were having. On the West Coast they were haying a hard fight, and he thought the union should put its own house in order before going abroad. The home unions should be assisted before anything was done outside New Zealand. The Australian game had a strong hold in Victoria. Mr Dean said the union ahvays helped the smaller unions. If the union helped the New South Wales Union to establish Rugby in Victoria the former would benefit. He had received favourable reports in regard to Victoria. RANFURLY SHIELD MATCHES. In future all Ranfurly Shield matches must be played on the holders’ grounds, but there is a proviso that if the shield is retained for more than two years the holders may accept challenges while on tour. HAWKE’S BAY TEAM’S ITINERARY, The arrangement of the programme of interprovincial Rugby matches for the present season occupied the attention of the delegates. According to the list pencilled, Hawke’s Bay, the holders of the Ranfurly Shield, will play Wairarapa on June 3, Wanganui on June 6, Manawatu on August 7, Wellington on August 14, Auckland on August 21, Canterbury on September 15, South Canterbury on September 22, and Southland on September 29. SOUTHLAND’S REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, May 6. The New Zealand Rugby Union has arranged the following representative fixtures for Southland during tho current season: Otago, at Dunedin, August 14. Otago, at Invercargill, August 25. South Canterbury, at Invercargill, September 1. Canterbury, at Invercargill, September 8. Wellington, at Invercargill, September 22. Hawke’s Bay, at Invercargill, September 29.