Dominion's Rugby Year Reviewed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 11

Dominion's Rugby Year Reviewed

Future tours planned lessons of the past WELLINGTON, Today. Th« annual meeting of the New Rugby Union opened this S£n Mr. P- A. Maddison, the firing president, said that last year there were 32,000 players represent--2 1919 clubs in the Dominion, and ‘.hit the Rugby fields, fheir buildings 'nd appointments were unequalled Tsxcept perhaps by racing clubs) in the Dominion. Rugby occupied an important place in the national life and civil existence, and the unions were justified in expecting every support from the Governnunt and local bodies. He hoped that strong representations would be made to the Government for the cancellation of the amusement tax. Regarding the South African tour, Mr. Maddison said that there wer e many lessons for New Zealand to learn, one being the question of eliminating the wing-for-waid, who was only a menace, a spciler, a decided obstructionist in the game, and often responsible for the development of unfair tactics. The present scrum forma- ■ tion evidently required some alter- < aticn. He considered that no delegation had ever left the Dominion from which New Zealand had received greater advancement, or that had fostered and advanced a better spirit of goodwill and understanding between two units of the British commonwealth of nations. Mr. Maddison paid a tribute to the service rendered by Mr. A. Mercer to the team in South Africa. AGREEMENT WITH N.S.W. Referring to other tours, he said that New Zealand would be sending a team 10 Australia this season, and that it would be opposed by an Australian learn for the first time for many years. A new agreement had been recently concluded between New Zealand and New South Wales governing future tours. The salient clauses provided for visits of New Zealand teams to Australia in 1929 and 1932, and return visits from New South ) Wales in 1931 and 1933. Each • team was to play eight matches on each tour. The New South Wales . Rugby Union will take 20 per cent, of the net profits from the New Zealand tour for the express purpose of fostering the game In Queensland and Victoria. Regarding last year's New South Wales tour in New Zealand, Mr, Maddison said that the playing of two extra matches accounted for the New Zealand Union’s year showing a profit Instead of a loss. PLACE ON ADVISORY BOARD So far as the British tour next year was concerned, the Dominion should co-ordinate its forces to meet the invasion, and develop a side which would uphold the Dominion’s great record. The British team would play 21 matches, and the cost of the tour would he approximately £II,OOO. Whatever was the result on the playing fields. Mr. Maddison hoped that the Dominion would be given representation and voting-power on the Imperial Advisory Board." a privilege justified by the Dominion’s record. He concluded by stating that there *as reason to look fcyward optimistically to the future of Rugby in this country.