The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-03
RUGBY GAME HAS
REFORM LESSONS
Exciting Play of New Zealanders
Shows 'Open" Work to
Hearts Content. U.s.
journal Special Service

journal Special Service LIZA
New York, Feb. s.-"open football the
the big intercollegiate gridiron games, has,
been found. Most peculiar Of all, 1t exists in
the Rugby play Of the English and New Zealand
teams, from which the American intercollegiate
game was derived.
The danger of too many Innovations and
too much alleged Improvement was shown when
the play of the New Zealand team In the
Rugby match against the allNew Works at
Washington park is compared with the college
games as played In this country. In many
respects Rugby is preferable to intercollegiate
football. both from the standpoint OF the spec
tator and the player.
While lacking in the evoluttons and team
plays Of the American game, it surpasses the
college sport both in open play and speed. The
Lghtninglike changes and the amount Of ter
ritory covered by the Rugby game and players
is q decided improvement over the slow moving
and ponderous rushes of the elevens that Illus
trate the American changes in the game OF
football.
Theories Exploded.
Several Of the pet theories of the pigskin
coaches and rulemakers were exploded yester-
day by the game played by the antipodes, and
1t will be impossible in the future to convince
spectators of the play that their contentious are
either correct or based on facts. "a o..
1t is decidedly unfortunate that the game
not arranged earlier, In order that more
attention might have been attracted to it and
the play witnessed by more Of the reformers who
are struggling so desperately to bring American
football back to the point when 1t can be played
safely and sanely by collegians and schoolboys.
The exhibition of what the original Rugby game
contains for both players and spectators was
revelation and proved far more spectacular
and interesting than the average game between
American college elevens.
The spectacle of the ball being carried from
thirty to sixty yards at time by series OF
dashes and ligh tninglike passes would have glad
dened the hearts Of the, faithful football fol
lowers who journey scores Of miles each autumn
to witness the big contests between rival uni
versities.
Wore Light Clothing.
Fifteen players formed team, and in place
Of the cumbersome armor and padded uniforms
of the university gridiron warrior the Rugby
players wore light jerseys, running trunks heav!
stockings that just covered the calves of thei
legs and light leather shoe with cleats some
what similar to baseball shoe.
During the two thirty minute halves playe,
there numerous tackles and tumbles, We
not injured or replaced. The bal
was similar in size and shape to that used II
Intercollegiate football. but was handled an
kicked with far more skill than is displayed b.
the average college player.
The game opened with a kickoff like that i
the intercollegiate play. The ball was the
either carried Or kicked toward the opponent
goal line without the many lineups so fire
quent In the Intercollegiate game The advance
averaged fully twenty yards each, and run
OF nifty and sixty yards were frequent. In tn
gains not one but seven to ten players had pos
session of the ball as it was worked up til
field
The in possession Of the pigskin, whe
about to be tackled, swiftly passed the ba
to teammate running at his side, and Jus
back of him, and in this way the ball was fr,
quently worked across the field during thirt.
yard run. If about to be tackled and withol
the wings at hand to pass to, the player a
most invariably punted under full headwa
kicking twenty to thirty yards without troubl