REALM OF SPORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17347, 30 September 1924, Page 6

REALM OF SPORT.

VISITS TO LJ.S.A, (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, September 29. The visit of the All Black team to California some years ago gave an impetus to the Rugby game in that State and led to a thrilling series of games between the Universities of Stanford and California. Latest advices, however, are to the effect that in recent years the game lias received a setback, having been replaced to a large extent by the American game. The hope of a revival of the British code on the Pacific Coast, particularly at Stanford, was expressed to-day by Mr Harry B. Maloney, Associate l>irector of Physical Education, who is a passenger on the Makura as manager of the Stanford lawn tennis team which has just concluded a successful tour of Australia and is now on its way back to the United States. Mr Maloney is a keen Rugby enthusiast, and left no doubt as to his feelings when he said, “ Rugby is a game, and American football as now played is a business.” Mr Maloney said that, as a result of the games played by the All Blacks m California, students of the lAiiversities had been left with the impression that, from the standpoint of amateur sport, the only thing worth while was to play the game. That impression had been handed down as a tradition from one generation of students to another, and had done much to raise the standard of University athletic activities. This spirit had been greatly assisted by the visits of two Australian teams, the Wallabies and Waratahs. People on the West Coast of America felt that the Australians and New Zealanders were their natural rivals m sport, and that they should have many things in common to further cement that desirable relationchip. One very real link could be forged by fostering international intercollegiate athletic relationships between the people at both ends of the 'Pacific. Stanford felt closer to Australia and New Zealand ihan to any other Universities, for they had housed men from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. and all had made good. The possibility of a Stanford Rugby t«am visiting these countries in the near future was mentioned by Mr Maloney, who said he was expecting an invitation to be sent to Stanford by the New South Wales Rugby Union

asking that a team should be sent tc New South "Wales next season or th< following year. Stanford had hac eleven men in the American K.ugb.i team which took part in the Olympic Games, and they had a sufficient nu cleus to make possible a continuation of the game in the University 7 . He hoped there would be sufficient stimulus and backing to make it worth while for the youngs men to take uj; the game, and the proposed trip tc Australia and New Zealand should help hi this direction. The young men were keen enough on the game, but if. was necessary to capture the interest ol the graduates. “ 1 am convinced that this four of the tennis team to Australia is equivalent of two years in college,” said Mr Maloney. “In a few months away from home they have acquired a practical experience of the world not possible from their book studies. In Australia they found a country larger than their own inhabited by people who speak and look like themselves, and with ideals and ambitions similar to their own. Situated, as we are at the other end of the Pacific, we do not hear enough of what is going on at this end. International contests should do much to cement the very real friendship that exists, and tfie visit of the tennis team is only a start. There is a prospect of a boxing team being sent down next year, as well as a track team of four. If we add to this the visit of a Stanford football team within the next two years, you will have one University doing its share towards this very valuable understanding. The football team would certainly play in New Zealand, as we regard this country as the home of Pugby.”