RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 257, 30 October 1934, Page 8

RUGBY

INTERNATIONAL GAME ENGLISH UNION’S POLICY. LIBERTY OF THE CLUBS. LONDON, Sept. 20. At the recent meeting of the English Rugby Union the question of international matches was considered, and afterwards an official statement was issued as follows: — “The policy of the Rugby Football Union shall be no increase in the number of its international matches, but the union will not refuse to consider application by its affiliated clubs for permission to play matches against clubs of foreign countries if it is satislied that Rugby Union football is conducted and played in such foreign countries in strict accordance with the true spirit and principles of the game. ’ ’ It has been suggested in some quarters that English Rugby Union has been sitting on the fence in regard to this question. By issuing this statement it has published to the world what is its true attitude. The correspondent of the Sunday Express, who writes on other types of football than Rugby, has these comments to make:—All this means is that the position of touring teams this season will probably be precisely the •same as last. Matches will be permitted with teams in Germany, Denmark. Holland, or even Russia, but the ban will still be up in France. It is about time that the Rugby Union paid more attention to putting its own house in order before worrying so much about professionalism and other malpractices in France. Every Rugby man knows that laws of the union are winked at, if not openly flouted, in scores of famous clubs all over the country. Particularly is this the case where the playfers concerned are not of the public school class and cannot afford to spend £lOO a year on their football. This £lOO a year, by the way, is the amount a famous ex-international told me'he spent every season on jerseys, other necessary equipment, and travelling expenses he was entitled to, but could never get