The New York herald., 1876-11-18
RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

Al tho seventh annual October general meeting,
held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, October
%, the committees report the past season was
submitted After dealing with tho international and
North aud South matches, brought OF under union
auspices, the report proceeded
With regard, finally, TO the status and position
OF the union, your committee would venture tho
opinion that ltto Is left to be desired.
Organized in tho winter OF lS70-Is7l. and COM
prslng at the close OF the thirty three
clubs only, tho union has extended IT'S influence in
every direction, and, though IN the shape OF unions
in Scotland ana Ireland MINOR branches have been
severed IRON the parent stem and have attained
already vigorous growth on kindred soil, there
now nj the close oil tho sixth year no fewer than los
clubs which acknowledge, ny personal enrolment the
authority OF tho original society. This tact alone
affords conclusive evidence OF tho general popularity
oil the union code throughout the United Kingdom.
But the influence OF the union is still widely
felt, and more generally acknowledged than the
Jority Of Its members arc aware Of Not only IN
Canada, but in several OF tho States OF America
have the UNION laws been adopted; ana from Chicago,
IN June last came challenge for an international
match In Calcutta and Bombay. too the union has
been duly recognized by the Adoption OF the laws in
iher entrety and going further south, several clubs
In New Zealand play tho Rugby gamo which has also
found firm footing on Australian sell. Mainly
in consequence OF the exe.tions OF Mr.. +. B. Lark,
a past officer OF tho the union, the Southern
Rugby Football Union has been founded IN
Sydney, New South Wales aud this youthful society
OF twenty clubs not only adopted thu union code ON
its foundation but as your committee learn from the
latest Australian papers, has kept with the
by adopting the amendments which became law In
With regard 10 the style OF play OF tho present day,
your committee would remark that deterioration
forward play has been very generally commented
in Scotland and Ireland well Eng
land Forwards OF late years have been given to
concentrating their energies in using every OF
their weight in the attempt 10 push their opponents
nearer goal The working OF the ball with the feet,
after the model Of association players, has been
almost entirely neglected. and Spectators generally
have complained bitterly OF the unntercstng charac-
ter Of the play and the wcarsomo monotony OF III >
showing matches into which tho scrummagss havo de-
generated Your committee would therefore draw at
tention to this falling and urg0 forward players TO
thoroughly study dribbng and not only to learn how
to take ball through the opposing ranks in serum
mage, but also how 10 make OF 1t when the serum
mage has broken up
Tho following dates were then announced for the
union matches of lS76-1S77-North South, in
London, saturday, December o; England VS.. Ireland,
London, Monday, February, s: England Scot
land at Edinburgh, Monday, March s; each match TO
be fifteen sido
The following officers wore elected for 1Ss6-lS77: -
President, C. ID Hcatlcy (Rchmond) Vice Presidents,
Hon. II. A. Lawrence uchmondl and A. q. Guile
mard West Kenp; Honorable Secretary and
Treasurer, H. J. Graham (Wimbedon): COM
mittee +. Il. Adams tRichmondl L. Blrket Chaplain
Rovcrs) n. Bishop tWasps), w. Il. Collins (St
Georges Hospital) f. H. Cross UNITED Hospitals), F.
J. Curley Marlborough Nomads). II. J. Enthovcn
tRavcnscourt rarkl e. r. Gunner marlborough No.
madsl, +. Kewcy l.verpool), +. Luscombe (Gips,cs)
f. Oliver (wimolcdon), 6. W. Perham (Harlcquins 4.
Stokes lBIackheathl \. Thursby tOld Chcltonians K
Walker (ManchestcrL