INTERNATIONAL RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1934, Page 9

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY

ANGLO-FRENCH DIFFERENCE

OFFERS MADE BY RIVAL CODE. BRITAIN’S “NATIONAL” VIEWPOINT. REVIEW OF LATE DEVELOPMENTS. * “In the sphere of International Rugby Union (amateur) football, developments are proceeding at present that may in time even have some influence on the wide question of international amity, for peoples associated and united in the principles of sport and play as we understand them must surely better appreciate the other fellow’s viewpoint, temperamental peculiarities and general psychology,” said Mr. James McLeod, chairman of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union, in an interview, when recent cables from abroad were referred to him. “Outside the countries of the British Empire, Rugby Union is now organised in Japan, the treaty ports of China, United States, some of the South American Republics and in Europe,” continued Mr. McLeod. “Early this year at a conference attended by France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Holland, it was decided ,to form an international Rugby Board with headquarters in Paris, the council to consist of four representatives from France, two from Germany and one each from the other constituent nations. A further meeting was held on March 24 last at which, it is understood, although details are not yet to hand, part of the business was to be consideration of making contact with the British International Board (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales).

“In this connection it has to be remembered that the English Rugby Union broke relations with France a couple of seasons ago on the ground, so far as a New Zealander can understand it, that the game had got out of hand in France and was not played in the spirit approved in Great Britain and Ireland. Since then no British international games have been played with France. The game has nevertheless continued to progress in France, 1200 clubs having taken part in the competitions during the past season. France apparently was agreed upon by by the European board to negotiate in England, and a conference between the' French Federation and the representatives of the four British unions was held in London on March 16.

LEAGUE CODE’S OFFER. “Meantime, spurred on by the able representatives of the Australian Rugby League, the rival code in England has bestirred itself to win France over to the League code, and a number of exhibition games have recently been played with that object in view. The possibility of France, and through France the other European Rugby nations, being lost to Rugby Union through the failure to heal the breach between Britain'and France has been appreciated in New Zealand, and a short discussion on the subject at the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union council attended by delegates from all the rmions of New Zealand, did not proceed very far owing to representations by the chairman of the New Zealand union that it might •lead to further misunderstanding of New Zealand in England. As a matter of fact, the object of the promoters of the discussion was merely to express the goodwill of New Zealand footballers towards the new organisation and its amateur status. - - .

“A few days .ago the-French authorities definitely turned down the proposals of Rugby League, thus reaffirming loyalty to the Union code. This was reasonably interpreted as an indication that the conference in London with France had reached a satisfactory conclusion. Just how wide of the mark this interpretation was, and how difficult it is to get the Rugby Union authorities in Britain to take other than a purely national view of the game was revealed by a cable at the end of the week, when we were informed that ‘the British Rugby Union informed the French Federation that the time was not yet ripe for the resumption of international matches, adding that the federation had done much for the recovery of Rugby but insufficient as long as the game was not played in France in the same spirit as it was played in Britain. Above all, as long as the present system of competition existed it would be impossible to consider arranging international fixtures.’ ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN, “The wide-awake Rugby League authorities have lost few hours in offering France an alternative, this morning’s Daily News informing us: ‘As an. outcome of the Franco-British Rugby Union’s breakdown the secretary-general of the British Rugby League has -informed the French Federation that 15-a--side matches could be organised with British Rugby League teams, despite the refusal of the Rugby Union to reinstate France.’

“Without having the whole of the relevant facts before us it may perhaps be considered presumptions for observers at this distance to question the decision of the British authorities, but one cannot help feeling that if the result is that the “snub” administered to French Rugby closes the door against the new Rugby playing nations of Europe making contact on the playing fields with Britain and the Dominions, then an extremely unwise decision has been made, and one that cannot be construed as other than regrettable through denying youth the opportunity of making international contacts and friendships at play. “For years Australia and New Zealand have endeavoured to secure representation on the International Board (British) with little hope of success so far,, and it is reasonably safe to say that had such been granted a more tolerant and encouraging attitude would be adopted towards the endeavours of European and other nations to establish the game. Granted that the Gaelic temperament may take some time to bring its'physical robustness under control on the playing field, no educational apprenticeship should be necessary for the Teuton or the Saxon races, any more than it has been necessary for the Japanese. “Recent advices from members of the Australian University team that toured Japan pay a high tribute to the quality and sportsmanship of Japanese Rugby, pointing out at the same time that it would be injudicious for New Zealand, if friendly relations are to be established, to contemplate ever sending a team including the usual robust, type of All Black forward to that country. The Japanese plays the game by rule, and would entirely fail to understand, let alone appreciate, being swept along the playing field by sheer weight and energy.”