THE BRITISH RUGBY TEAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1930, Page 8

THE BRITISH RUGBY TEAM.

In a day or two the British Rugby team’s tour of New Zealand will be brought to a close. From every point of view it has been a most successful . undertaking. Tho Rugby authorities have ample reason to be pleased with the financial results, for the various matches aroused the keenest interest throughout the country and brought together such crowds of spectators as the Dominion had not previously seen. The football results also must he regarded as not less satisfactory. Every honest New Zealander" is, of course, proud of the success of the Dominion’s representatives in three of the four Test matches, but equally is ready to sympathise with the visitors because they have had more than the usual run of misfortune to which touring teams are subject. That, by the way, is not to ■ suggest that the Britishers are likely to be seeking sympathy; on the contrary, they have lived up to the best traditions of the race in their graceful acceptance of defeat and their modesty in victory. And in a country whose Rugby enthusiasts were perhaps a little inclined to be rather too keen to win the lesson which the visitors have taught is welcome. They have also taught New Zealanders something about the technique of Rugby, or, at any rate, have given them a timely reminder of something they already knew. The New Zealand tour of South Africa tempted the players in this country to modify their style, but the British visitors have once more demonstrated the superiority of the bright, open, sporting game, and the Dominion’s record of success in the Tests may well be accepted as evidence that New Zealanders not only can play Rugby of this type, but also can play it well. If the tour had achieved nothing more than that it would have been well worth while, but it lias also served the good purpose of bringing many New Zealanders into touch with a party of line young men from the Mother Country. Their conduct on the playing fields has been admirable; except for one regrettable outburst, which has remained entirely unsupported by expert testimony, they have been praised wherever they hate gone. Socially they have been most pleasant guests, whom everyone ; has been delighted to entertain. If they 1 are able to take away as happy recolI lections of the weeks they have spent j in the Dominion as New Zealanders will entertain, of their visit the tour certainly will have justified Itself, The

British Rugby players have earned, the right to be regarded not only as good footballers, but also as worthy representatives of Hi® Old Country. They rank as ambassadors of Empire, and they have fulfilled their mission so capably that they have succeeded in strengthening the ties by which New Zealand is proud to be linked with the grand country that sent them forth.