The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1908. THE NATIONAL GAME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13597, 18 May 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, MAY 18, 1908. THE NATIONAL GAME.

To-day the Dominion will welcome to its shores the members of the All British team of footballers whose visit marks the third, occasion on which the Old Land has sent out its representatives. The present occasion is one that- if. fraught with more than usual interest. Britain has seen what New Zealand footballers can do, both as amateurs and as professionals; and from the remarkable success that attended our amateur players, the anticipations are that during the tour, winch opens this week, the many lovers of clean sport will witness a series of struggles that should cartainly still further raise the standard of play and enhance the popularity of what is looked upon as our national game. VYe say " national'' advisedly, for it can truly be said that though New Zealanders have gained a first-clasa victory in rowing, and gratifying successes in amateur athletics, bowling, and. tennis,it is football that has mad© the Dominion as a whole take the superior position in an outdoor game that numbers its patrons by tens, of thousands. In anticipation of the Englishmen's visit, - it is reported on all sides that the interest taken in the game by the youth of this, colony is ,greater than ever, cine mainly to-the fact that iniore. union and test matches : will be played than was the case with the British tour of 1904. South Canterbury will be one of the unions visited, and a.s the game will. be played directly after the first test match. early nextmonth, our people will see their English cousins at their best. The more widely their game is seen the better, and- it is this widening of the scope of play t'hat will do permanent good, for the people as a whole will see Rugbv football at its best, played by opposing teams whose traditions are manly and .their, only..,hope is that the best team may win.' We are aware that traditions have been shaken lately by the spread of professionalism, but. this is a latter-day growth which is of too discursive a character to deal with at present. is not out of place toj remark here, howeer, that some leading authorities on the game in England attribute the revival of professionalism to th? fact that- the tours of the Englishmen, the New Zealanders, and the South Africans afforded ample proof that there waa ''■ money in Rugby football." It was in fact. this proof which led up to the successful tour of the New Zealand professionals last. year. This is merely, however, by the way. To return to tha advent, of the Englishmen, it is not. too much to say that- with the welcome to- , day will .start, that, wave of enthusiasm which, moving appropriately enough from the centre of our islands, will sweep south and north, and finally ebb, leaving it is confidently hoped the most pleasant traces among the players and the peoples of the old and the new lands.