The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23
Rugby Teams to Have
Valued Trophy
Bronze Statue of FootbaTIer
Must Be Won Thrice by
City Players
By William Unmack


--lLS successful one from every stand
kelnt IS predicted Rugby IS improving
t-Salty. The players know more of
e game and consequently can handle
-iS Da4l 10 better advantage.
-, mere are two Rugby teams in the
49, a present who would be glad 10
e4cOlne eX-college men 10 their ranks.
t-ASt year the Barbarian Rugby foot
SStl team, composed Of men who had
fsSageo the game in all four corners Of
tee globe, was formed. and its games
vita the universities and other colleges
(-aslng Rugby did more for the ad-
FeAcenenr Of the game here than il
mas been given credit for
livery member OF the Barbarian team
~ N experienced Rugby player. He
AeSWs Just what 70 do al a critical
moment and where 10 pass the bail.
by watching these experts in action
ne learning Rugbyite last year was
able 70 pick up lots Of points.
This year the Barbarians are again
N the Held, as strong as before, and
they have a new found friend and COM
petitor in the Olympic Rugby Is.
Bpth teams have games arranged
with California and Stanford universi-
tles- Nevada university is also again
out Tor Rugby and viii send team TO
cornpete with the universities here.
Stanford viii visit Reno and play the
Nevada. boys on their own ground II
Is also probable that the University
q California VIII make the trip 10
Both the Olympic and Barbarian
teams have games arranged with the
sagebrush lads
As in the last two seasons, the Van
couFer Rugby union Will again send
team down here 10 compete with the
universities. The visits from Vancouver
are locked forward TO with interest
by the California and Stanford teams.
The Vancouver teams play a good
class OF Rugby and can always be
depended on 70 put up good game.
one great trouble Of Rugby here has
been the lack OF competent referees 70
take charge OF the games. Several
men have been tried out but. with
lew executions, they have all been
1ound wanting IN one respect or an
other. Everywhere Rugby is played
referees are appointed by q recognized
referees association. Each member OF
that association has 70 prove himself
competent both in theory and in practi-
cal work Where there are such ref
erees associations. Rugby has ad-
Fsnceo rapidly every year Such an
association Is IN great need here at the
present time With view OF discuss
Ing this particular subject and going
into the matter thoroughly q meeting
has been called for S o'clock next
Wednesday night At the Olympic club.
Dr. Oscar Taylor and J flanagan are
both IN accord with the movement and
have signifed their intention OF being
present Invitations have also been
sent 10 =. Erskfne OF the Olympic
team. Il Elliot and J. Lafferty OF the
BARBARIAN team, G Cameron, ex-coach
e Z Nevada university /. A Wolff who
has presented a handsome bronze piece
for competition among Rugby clubs
and A. Wilding OF the Soccer football
unpires' association. St. Mary,s col
lege, santa Clara college, and Univer-
sity OF the Pacific have each been in
vited 70 send representatives
II the meeting considers the plan
faVOrablT, steps VIII be Immediately
taken 70 secure names Of men willing
70 referee. Weekly meetings viii be
held al which the game viii be studied
and discussed.
The objects OF the association will
be To supply competent referees for
ali scheduled games: 10 give correct
decisions on ali points OF Rugby law
submitted and TO work in harmony
with the universities. colleges and
clubs and help maintain q high stand
ard OF excellence in the game With
this city, L A Wolf. vice president Of
the Barbarian Rugby team has do
mated q handsome bronze statue OF a
Rugby footballer, to be competed for
among CITY Rugby teams The coudf-
tions imposed with the gift are very
few. the principal one being that ii has
10 be won three years by the same
team before becoming the final prop
erty Of that team This does not mean
that the same club has 10 win the com
petition three years in succession.
Three times IN all IS the condition
The second condition is that the COM
petition be open TO all amateur Rugby
teams in the city. In the event OF
other teams being formed IL is more
organized In that event the winner
OF the union championship VIII also bes
declared the winner Of the Wolff tro-
ply.
The statue represents Cwvn Nichols.
one Of the most famous center three
quarters In the world. II IS of bronze
and stands on a marble pedestal. Il is
p incnes IN helght over all. Nichols is
cast in the act Of running with the ball
and passing Il 10 his wing man
The trophy is given TO stimulate the
- aLrfr
donation 10 Rugby here Wolf has the
best interests OF clean and manly anna
teur sport at heart This year the Bar
harlan and Olympic teams viii play for
the possession Of the trophy and the
games are sure 10 be well contested.
The final outcome of the international
Rugby football games now being played
fn New Zealand between the British
and New Zealand teams will probably
be the alteration and modification of
several OF the laws OF the game.
The British team considers law -
most seriously. and the alteration pro-
posed IS splendid one. and one which
IS N the interest," OF clean and fast
Rugby. The law in questions refers
10 bringing the bail into play from
touch. The law as # now reads is
as follows:
Law 12-The bail IS IN touch when II or a
player carrying II. touch OF cross the touchlines
il shall then belong 70 the side opposite TO ths 1
last touching Il in the field Of play. except
when carried in One OF the side 10 whom the
bnH belongs shall bring Il into play al the SPOT
where Il went into touch. By one OF the follow
lng methods.
angles 70 the fouchli1e.
The part OF the above law to be al
tered IS section A The body Of the law
VIII be the same as IL now reads It is
proposed TO alter section A 10 have the
ball thrown in at least five yards
The section in the proposed altered
form would read.
q fsa Throwing II out at least I've yards 50
s. 70 siight AZ right angles 70 the touch lines.
The great advantage Of this PROPOSE
ton viii be apparent TO all Rugby men
The law in the amended form would
40 away entirely with the (al bound
Ing III" Of the ball. (b) wasting time
hv the defending team; fc) would open
the game Up, particularly so with the
defending team Cd would give the
snectators q more open and exciting
game 70 watch. fe) would minimize the
S7sisn her Of scrums prevalent from
breaches on the line out.
II is 10 be hoped the amended rule
viii he passed and made a permanent
law OF the game. To players il viii be
= Big asset and TO the public the great
- eScftement 70 be derived from watch
irr Rugby under such open conditions
Nil add to their pleasure. and the
Cleanliness OF the game win be more
srna rent than ever before
The Barbarian team now has its list
fr7rr flrr nj, -