Inter-Code Rugby Proposed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 13

Inter-Code Rugby Proposed

TO ASSIST UNEMPLOYED

Endorsed By League Council

THERE is every possibility of an inter-code Rugby football match being played at Auckland with in the next week or so. The Council of Management of the New Zealand Rugby Football League gave its approval last evening to a suggestion of one of its members that a match, Auckland Rugby Union players v. Auckland Rugby League players, be played to assist the unemployment fund.

The proposal emanated last evening from Mr. J. A. .Ferguson, financial manaeer of tho New Zealand League team which recently returned from a tour of Australia. T£ e came to the meeting armed with a copy of an Australian paper in which it was suggested that a match Kangaroos (Australian Rugby League representatives) v. the Wara✓lr. J. A. Ferguson tails (Australian Rugby Union representatives) should bo played this season, the proceeds to be devoted to charity. In advancing his scheme Mr. Ferguson said that representatives of both codes intermingled in football house matches during the season and there was no reason why they should not participate in a game Auckland Rugby League players v. Auckland Rugby Union players for charity. The game would not be to show the respective merits of the two codes, Mr. Ferguson said, but purely and simply to assist the unemployed. He thought that the unique nature of such a match would bring a gate of £I,OOO without any trouble. Mr. R. Doble was sure that if the question was put through the hands of the respective authorities Mr. Ferguson would have no chances of getting the approval of the other side. “MATCH NOT OFFICIAL” Mr. W. O. Carlaw: How would the Rugby players get on if they played against League men? Mr. Ferguson: The Rugby players might be disqualified by their authorities, but they would just have to put in an application to be reinstated afterward. Mr. Carlaw: There would be no difficulty like that with our players. Mr. Ferguson explained- that he did not intend the match to be an official one in the sense that it would be controlled by the respective Auckland authorities. It would be a matter for the individual efforts of the players on both sides. The Chairman, Mr. C. A. Snedden: I think we should commend Mr. Ferguson for the thought—the idea of assisting the unemployed. He knew how hard times were and anything that could be done, he thought should be done. The Auckland Trotting Club has already held a benefit meeting. It was not a question of the council giving consent for the match to be played. It would not be a representative fixture. It would simply mean that a team of League players would play a team of Rugby players. On the motion of Mr. E. Stallworthy, second by Mr. A. McClymont, the council decided to give Mr. Ferguson its moral and active support and give him full powers to bring the proposal to fruition if possible. Mr. Carlaw suggested that the Auckland City Council could be approached tor the use of the Western Springs Stadium free of charge for the afternoon. Mr. Ferguson stated after the meeting that he was going into the finer points of the proposal. It would be possible to play a match with 14 playRACING FIXTURES SEPTEMBER 20 .. .. Ashburton C’ty R.C. 20, 22 .. Avondale J.C. 25. 27 .. Geraldine R.C. 27 .. .. Hawke’s Bay J.C. OCTOBER 4 .. .. Napier Park R.C. 4 .. .. Kurow J.C. 4, 6 .. Auckland R.C. 0, 11 Dunedin J.C. 10, 11 . Otaki-Maori R.C. tG, IS . South Canterbury J.C. IS .. Masterton R.C. 25, 27 . Wellington R.C 27 .. .. Waverley R.C 27 .. .. Waikato Hunt Club. 27 .. .. Waipawa County R.C 27 . .. North Canterbury R.C 27, 20 .. Gore R.C. 30, Nov. 1 Poverty Bay T.C. NOVEMBER I .. .. Banks Peninsula R.C. 1 ~ .. Carterton R.C. 5 .. .. Rirchwood Hunt C. 6. S .. Whangarei R.C. 8. 10, 12, 15 Canterbury J.C. 13, 15 .. Dargaville R.C. 15, 17 .. Waikato R.C. 19, 20 .. Winton J.C. 22 .. .. Levin R.C. ' 22, 24 .. Te Kuiti R.C. 29, Dec. 1 Takapuna J.C. 29, Dec. 1 Feilding J.C. DECEMBER 6 .. „. Ashburton County R.C. 5, 6 .. Taumarunui R.C. 9, 10 .. Woodville Dist. J.C. 13 .. .. Waipa R.C. 26 .. .. Waipukurau J.C. 26, 27 .. Westland R.C. 26, 27 .. Taranaki J.C. 26, 27 .. Dunedin J.C. 26, 27, 29 Manawatu R.C. 26, 29 .. Jan. 1,2 Auckland R.C. 31, Jan. 1 Greymouth J.C. JANUARY 1931. 1 .. .. Waikouaiti R.C. 1 .. .. Wyndham R.C. 1,2 .. Hawke’s Bay J.C. 1,2 .. Stratford R.C. " 1,2 .. Marton J.C. 1, 3 .. Wairarapa R.C. 2, 3 Southland R.C. 7, S .. Reefton J.C. 7, . 8 .. Thames J.C. 10, 12 .. Vincent J.C. 14, 15 .. Foxton R.C. 17 Bay of Islands R.C. 20, 22 .. Wairoa R.C. 20, 22, 24 Wellington R.C. 22 .. .. Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C. 24 .. .. Wairio J.C. 24 .. .. Waipapakauri R.C. 2S, 29 .. Pahiatua R.C. 29, 31 .. Takapuna J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES 1930 Methven T.C.—October 4. Waikato T.C.—October 11. Greymouth T.C.—October 25, 27. Auckland T.C.—Octobe: 25. 27. Oamaru T.C.—October 27. Wellington T.C.—November 1. N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.—Nov. 11, 13. 14. Nelson T.C.—November 21, 22. Forbury Park T.C.—November 27, 29. New Brighton T.C.—Dec 13. Ashburton T.C.—December 26. Gore T.C. December 26. i Westport T.C.—December 26, 27. South Wairarapa T C.—Dec. 26, 27. Auckland T.C.—Dec 27, 30, 31. Winton T.C.—December 30. Inangahua T.C —December 30.

ers aside. The Rugby wingforward could be eliminated, and another forward could bo packed in the League scrum. A FORMER CHALLENGE Such details, however, could be better arranged when the two teams were selected. Mr. Ferguson said that the game could be played under Rugby rules lor one half and under League rules for the other, or a compromise could be made between the two for the whole of the game. Mr. Ferguson said that the League team would comprise the majority of the Auckland and South Auckland members of the team which toured Australia. He was also confident that he could get the services of several well-known Rugby Union players. BOTH CODES AMATEUR Both codes in New Zealand are strictly amateur, and thus there is not the difficulty to a match such as applied in Australia, where the Rugby League game for the most part is professional. In house matches in Auckland Rugby players play League with League players, and League players play Rugby with Rugby players. Only a week or so ago. C. E. Gregory, captain of New Zealand at League, played for the Auckland Transport Board’s Rugby team against the Wellington Tramways team.