Rugby Unity Menaced By International Board.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18419, 22 March 1928, Page 1

Rugby Unity Menaced By International Board.

“ SPORTING LIFE ” ATTACKS FARCICAL CONSTITUTION OF BODY, WHICH IS ENDANGERING THE GAME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received March 22, 8.40 a.m.) I.ONDON, March 21. 4< QPORTING LIFE” states: “The Rugby world has been O warned in the past six years that the farcical constitution of the so-called International Board will lead us into danger. Thai moment has arrived in the form of the cabled statement by Mr S. F. Wilson. A real menace exists to British Rugby unity. The time has undoubtedly arrived when stronger action is necessary if we are to retain the Dominions as friends. “ The English Union is the Dominions’ best friend, but 'Scotland is violently antagonistic, and Ireland is supporting Scotland's attitude.”—Aust. and N.Z. Press Assn. In an interview with a “ Star ” reporter on Tuesday, Mr S. F. Wilson said: ” In my honest opinion, I don’t think we will 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. “ We may get a team from England and Wales at some time in the future", but ,we certainly won’t get representatives from Scotland, and probably not from Ireland. I don’t know exactly" what lies behind the matter. It seems to me to be merely a smallness on the part of some of those who are in control.”

BOARD’S ATTITUDE BRANDED “ INSULTING.”

Scotland is violently antagonistic to her overseas brothers; Ireland gives the impression of Supporting Scotland in everything, and the attitude of Scotland towards New Zealand is anything but pleasurable.” “Surely,” adds Mr Packford, “we are not going to lose the friendship of three centres of the Empire which have given some of the most magnificent players and sportsmen the game has ever produced ! ” —United Service.

DOMINIONS REGARDED AS OUTCASTS, ASSERTS ENGLISH WRITER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. (Received March 22, 9.45 a.m). LONDON, March 21. “Insulting” is the word used by “Sporting Life” to describe the International Rugby Board's decision not to send a team to New Zealand in response to the Dominion’s invitation, which, it says, is unquestionably a real menace to Anglo-Dominions Rugby unity. Prominence is given to-day to the cabled statement by Mr S. F. Wilson, New Zealand delegate to the International Conference in 1925, that no British team .will ever visit New Zealand as long as the men at present in charge oL affairs in Scotland and Ireland have a say in the matter. Significantly he adds that it will not affect the visits of their team to England. Mr C. W. Packford. “Sporting Life” expert, in an article says: “The time has undoubtedly arrived when drastic action must be adopted if Britain is to retain the dominions as Rugby friends. The constitution of the board is all wrong. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa merely occupy the position of outcasts, incapable of discussing an important point in common with the Council of the Home Unions. England is the best friend the dominions possess; Wales appears to be neutral;

ENGLAND LIKELY TO SEND A TEAM.

SCOTLAND AND IRELAND OPPOSE BIG TOURS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 22, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. It is understood that the International Rugby Board’s majority decision not to send a team to New Zealand is iTivlTkelprevent a team going. If the English union is unable meanwhile to persuade the other three unions to co-operate, it'is likely to send a purely Eriglish team. “We do not know what underlies opposition,” said an authority. “ It cannot definitely be said whether they are trying to abolish international i tours, but they are certainly not sympathetic towards them. Irish members support Scotland. Thus the board is divided. One section believes that 1 tours should be encouraged in the interests of Empire sentiment, as well as sport, while the other stubbornly opposes them.”—United Service.