FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 63

FOOTBALL.

Jf©TE§i BY FULL The British Rugby team to tour New Zealand this year will leave London for New Zealand in April. A programme of 18 matches will be- arranged, including probably two tests — one in the North Island ■and one in the South. In a private letter" Colin Gilray, the Rhodes scholar and iootballer, states that the Oxford- Fifteen this season, is slightly inferior to the Otago University at its best. Alan Adams, the 'Varsity three-quarter back, leaves for -England -next month. Macpherson also proceeds to England in the course of a few weeks. The departure of . these players means 'that the whole of last season's 'Varsity and ' 'Otago three-quarter line will "be missing next reason. Who will fill the places of the departed'? ' Jack Taia-roa, who was unfortunately drowned at Otakou (Maori Kaik) on New Year's Eve, was one of the finest footballers New Zealand ever produced. He was a hall back of the sturdy type. Taiaroa played for the Otago Boys' High School, and later poined the Dunedin Club. He represented, Otago in 1881, 1882, and 1884-. In, the latter year he -was selected to represent New 'Zealand* in the first tour of that ,team to Australia. Taiaroa was the star of that famous combination, and was regarded by the Australian public as one of the best footballers ever seen on a Sydney ground. Colin Gflray <was in the Oxford threequarter line in the match against the United Services early in November, when the University won hy_ 23 points to 9. The last English mail brought particulars of the death, on November 12, of ~L. M. Macleod, the Cambridge and Scottish international three-quarter. A few days earlier ho was taken ill with lappendicitis, and his death followed a few hours after an unsuccessful operation. A painful incident occurred in connection with the funeral. The grave collapsed, and could 1 not bat re-exca-vated before the cortege arrived. A.s a. .consequence, the coffin had to be left in the chapel 'till the following day, when the remains were interred. Macleod is~ described -by English writers as one of £he most brilliant three-quarters of modern times, and as a defensive player, in particular, he stood above aU his rivals. Reported in eonneetion'with the proposed Australian professional team to play Northern Union clubs next English season, that Wright, captain of the "New Zealand^ professionals, has been asked to select six of ' the best .players in New 'Zealand for inclucior in the New South, Wales team. It is ..understood that strong efforts tcre being made to induce Wallace, of Wellington, to again don the jersey next season in view of 'the contests with the British team. Wallace had. gjiven out that he "sras s;oing to quit the "Rugby arena, T>ut tho influence of his friends may have "the effect i of causing him to review Ms decision. Writing of the form of the New Zealand professional team, Hamish Stuart, the wellknown English critic, says^ '"T'olk whom I meet are ever asking whether _I consider ihe New Zealanders the equals of the 'All Blacks' who made listory in 1905. ; As I have not yet seen the new brigade, the only answer is a nibil novit in causa. _ Good judges who have seen 'the present tourists are, however, unanimously of opinion that the original New Zealandare were a greatly superior side in all departments, but most of all in defence. A friend in whose judgment I can rely tells me that only Messenger and Todd of. the backs can be compared with the best of the 1905 lot. Both, these men- are really great players, %nd have amply confirmed their reputation. It must be remembered, however, that the professional tourists, who are only profes-sionals-in-law according to themselves, have been called upon -co play a weirdly mongrel and macerated form of Rugby football, which they cannot like nearly so much as for politio reasons they say they do, and which they cannot possibly have mastered. Then their weakness in defence may be more apparent than real, especially when judged from the point of view of Rugby proper. One is apt to -forge b that the ■ Northern Union game is played by only 13 men. that Tialves are hampered in spoiling owing to the rififid rule that the half cannot follow the bail, and must be jbehind the last of his forwards, and that punting into touch is a defensive act forbidden by the rules."

A cable from London states that Reggie Gibbs, Ralph Thomas, and J. C. Williams (of Car-diff) have joined the team that the English Rugby Football Union is despatching to New Zealand this year. Other leading Welsh players are considering the union's offer.

The English, Welsh, and -Irish Unions have decided to invite the New South Wales Union to send a team to Great Britain next -season.

OPPOSITION IN SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH, January 1. The Scottish Uugby Union does not support the proposed British team's visit to New Zealand tnis winter, on the ground that it is likely to indirectly strengthen the professional movement.