ENGLISH RUGBY TOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1928, Page 7

ENGLISH RUGBY TOUR

THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD CRITICISM OF ITS ACTION. FRANK STATEMENT REQUIRED. London, May 19. Sporting Life again devotee an editorial note to the evergreen question of the Dominions and the International Rugby Board. “The New Zealand Rugby Union,” says the writer of the note, “is to bo congratulated on the manner in which it has received the intimation from the International Board that no British team would visit New Zealand in 1930; a compliment to which it was entitled. “Ono of tho ‘big’ men in New Zealand Rugby matters, Mr. S. F. Wilson, president of the Canterbury Union, has now definitely stated that the All Blacks will periodically send a team ‘Home’ if only to meet English and Welsh clubs, and so the cordial relations between the Rugby Union and those of tho Dominions will continue. “Rugby men. in tho Dominion are astounded at the lack of vision of a certain section of the International Board. They argue that if South Africa had direct representation on that authority a Better spirit might prevail, but they have little hope of the International Board—in their own words—-‘playing the game’ so far as they are concerned. A REGRETTABLE STATEMENT. “This is a regrettable statement, and it is all tho more deplorable emanating as it dobs from a sporting centre of the Empire. There may bo reasons why Continental countries should not be admitted into fellowship with the home unions, but these certainly do not apply to the Dominions, who are as keenly anxious for the future of the game as wo are. “Still, fortunately, owing to the sportsmanlike and statesmanlike action of the ‘English’ Union, in accepting the invitation of New Zealand to send a team out, there is now no fear of the split which at one time was threatened; and in future the AH Blacks will at least be seen on the playing fields of England and Wales.” The article is based on a letter from Mr. Wilson to a friend in London. Mr. Wilson requested that his opinions should be forwarded to Sporting Life. “In my honest opinion,” says Mr. Wilson, “I do not think we shall ever get a British team here, so long as the men at present in charge of affairs in Scotland and Ireland have any say in the matter. They do not appear to have any vision. There is not the least doubt but that we will send a team ‘Home’ periodically, and, although we are fortunately to receive a visit from our good friends of the Rugby Union, we certainly won’t get representatives from Scotland, and probably not from Ireland. NO SHARE IN CONTROL. “I don’t know exactly what lies behind the matter, but it seems to me to be merely a smallness on the part of some of those in control. As for New Zealand ever getting a share in control, I am positive wc never shall. I thought we would, when I was over there, but since I have seen how things are going, I don’t think there is the slightest possibility that we ever will.’ Mr. C. W. Packford, of Sporting Life, asks: Would it not be a good thing for the game of Rugby football if the International Board gave a belated explanation of the real reasons for its refusal to accept the invitation of the New Zealand Union to send a British team out in 1930? After such an indictment, it certainly appears necessary for the International Board to play the game, lay all its cards on the table, and make a perfectly frank statement as to why it has deliberately boycotted and insulted a powerful union of considerable value to the game.