RUGBY IN SAMOA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20362, 20 March 1928, Page 10

RUGBY IN SAMOA.

RAPID DEVELOPMENT. TOUR OF DOMINION PROBABLE; (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, March 10. There is a possibility of a native Rugby team from Samoa visiting New Zealand shortly. Mr V. J. Hawke, president of tho Apia Rugby Football Union, who was a passenger from the Islands by tho Tofna, stated that although no arrangements had yet been made, such a tour would be very popular in Samoa, and the Administrator, General Sir George Richardson, was very erthusiastic about it. Mr Hawke is attached to the bacteriological department of tho Health Department at Apia, and while a student at Otago University played in tho Otago representative team on a number of occasions. When ho went to Samoa three years ago he at once interested himself in developing sport among the natives. “ The football season at Apia commenced two or throe Saturdays ago.” he stated. “ This year we have five senior and five junior teams in competition. The natives are playing excellent football, and are improving all the time.” Mr Hawke said the senior grade natives’ team would be about equal to a junior grade team in the Dominion. Many of the players went on to the field bare-footed, although the kickers sometimes wore boots. They had two fine grounds on which were played two enior and two junior games each Saturday, and largo numbers of natives turned out to witness the games, displaying _ the greatest enthusiasm and a surprising knowledge of the rules of the game. A Referees’ Association had been formed, and the New Zealand rules were carried out as much ns possible, although they were obliged to make a few modifications to suit the conditions. The tootball season had been opened by General Richardson, who had also presented a cup for competition. “In fact, General Richardson has been a great help to us as the result of his kindly liucrcst, added Mr Hawke. One of the difficulties experienced was in classing the players. This could not be done by age, because there -were very few Samoans who knew their ages. In trading the players were sorted out by weight, natives of lOst 71b and nndcr being classed in the junior grades. The game was being taken up in the schools, and the Malifi Government had entered a senior team in the competition. “ The union is just able to keep going financially,” Mr Hawke said. ”Wc no not want to make any money, and we charge only a nominal fee to thei spectators. The teams are charged 10s to enter into the competitions. Finally, Mr Hawke said he was sure a Samoan team would do very well in this country. The season in Samoa lasted about three months—from to May—and a good time to bring a team here would be about the end of May.