RUGBY IN WAR-TIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24221, 13 February 1940, Page 11

RUGBY IN WAR-TIME

PLAYERS UNDER TWENTY HAWKE’S BAY SUGGESTION During the Great War representative Rugby continued in a modified form in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere, teams being selected from those under 20 years of age. Some youths who took part in those matches were destined later to wear the All Black jersey. The Hawke’s Bay selector (Mr N. A. McKenzie) thinks the precedent of the last war offers justification, at least in part, for the continuation of representative fixtures this season, even if in a modified form. Mr McKenzie said it would be idle to presume that the fact that Rugby football might be played would affect recruiting. “It is a fact.” he said, “that many plavers have already answered the call. Before the season commences manv more will doubtless have followed. It follows that every club will be weakened considerably in its playing strength, but I would not subscribe to the view that all Rugby should cease because of the war." It would be impossible to conduct the usual representative tours, Mr McKenzie considered. but there was no reason whatever why modified programmes should not be pursued