FOOTBALL.
TOUR OF THE ALL BLACKS. NO MATCHES IN SCOTLAND. MUCH RESENTMENT AROUSED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Dec. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 20. The Scottish Rugby Union's action In declining without giving reasons the Invitation by the English Union to allot fixtures inScotland to the All Blacks has aroused much resentment in British Rugby circles. Mr. Wray, interviewed, staled that a subcommittee appointed by the English Phiion in July invited the Scottish. Irish, Welsh and French Unions to say whether they would like matches with the New Zealanders allotted to them. Mr. Wray, who is chairman of tne sub-committee, states that with the exception of Scotland all replied favourably and securea matches. The secretary of the Scottish Union delayed writing until August 31, when .ne replied: “My emergency committee has decided that so far as they wore concerned, they do not wish any matches with the New Zealanders allotted to the Scottish Union.” Mr. Wray pointed out that the New Zealand so’diers fought side by side with their Scottish comrades, and the friendship between them was proverbial, and surely, despite what had happened in the past, the wound should now be healed. He added: “Scotland’s reply was of such a nature that It admitted, to my inind, no other construction than that the Scottish Union did not want their players to meet the New Zealand team.” Although the Scottish officials will not give a reason for their action, it is understood in Rugby circles here that the explanation is twofold. Firstly, when the All Blacks played in Scotland in 1905, they asked the .Scottish Union for a guarantee of £.500. Tin’s was refused, and the game was played without a guarantee, with the result that New Zealand took all the gate, amounting to £3OOO. Secondly, Scotland considers the invitation to the New Zealanders should come from the English Union. Scotland's resentment led them to take the present stand, which is strongly condemned by all the other British Unions.
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Bibliographic details
Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1923, Page 3
Word Count
329FOOTBALL. Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1923, Page 3
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