Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-12
ENGLISH RUGBY
CLUB MAY COME
NOW ON PLAYING TRIP TO NEW
ZEALAND
COULD BE INDUCED TO MAKE
CALIFORNIA DATES
Crack Colonial Teams Favorable to
Proposition of Meeting Los AM
geIes and San Francisco
Aggresations
BY o. HuoDLEsToNE

BY D. HuDDLESTONE
England encourages her colonies in
all kinds of sports, and every year sees
one or other of the colonial contingent
touring the mother country. Besides
the colonies, athletes and others from
France, Germany, Holland, Belgium,
Austria Hungary and other countries
indulge in friendly competition at foot
ball, rowing, cricket, long distance run.
ming, and in other branches of sports,
and 1t may not be long before interna-
tional quarrels and disputes will be de-
cided, instead of by an appeal to arms,
by a good football match or a stFenu-
Gus rowing contest. At any rate, the
latter method would be vastly cheaper
THE New Zealand Rugby union sent
splendid band of players to England in
the season of 1906. They were popular
ly known as the CAN Blacks" They
had a most successful tour in England
The magnificent way in which they dis
played the fine points of Rugby foot
ball in passing, running, speed, general
aIl-round excellence, combined with the
magnificent physique of the men, made
their trip through the British isles
something like a triumphal procession.
This team returned to New Zealand
via San Francisco and gave two eXhi-
billions in the latter city against a
Vancouver team. The crowds that
saw these games were very enthusi-
astic Such running, kicking, passing
and general athletic ability as the colo
malls displayed never had been seen
before. The sporting writers gave
most laudatory accounts of the games
and the northern colleges that had been
discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of playing
Rugby football practically were con-
WINGED of it's merits, after seeing the
= rNlf 1arrf hN
and have played Rugby ever since.
Although the New Zealanders had
such a successful tour, there was one
disappointment that, owing to the re-
strictions of amateurism, they were not
enabled to meet any of the professional
Rugby teams in England, having to
conflne themselves to the amateurs. 1t
was a point of discussion during the
tour whether the team, powerful and
strong as it was, successfully could
meet the more powerful professional
organizations. The New Zealanders
did not like to leave any worlds uncon-
quered, and so it was that after con-
siderable discussion in the fern leaf
colony it was decided to organize a
strong team of professionals to go to
England in the spring of the present
year and antagonize the English North
ern union. That they were fine body
of athletes is evident by the picture or
them, many of the men being over six
feet tall Great interest was evinced
in England over this second tour, and
it was gratifying to England to find
that her sturdy professionals were aole
to encompass the defeat, in a good
honest sporting fashion, of the power
full colonials not fewer than fourteen
times Two games were drawn and th'
colonials won eighteen, some on very
small margins, not. by any means the
walkovers the amateur team of the
previous year experienced. These re-
suits were considered good, as the colo
NAL team was not an ordinary club ag-
of players. Mr.. Messenger, one of the
of players Mr. Messenger, one of the
crack backs of the team, said after
the tour was completed I'VE were not
prepared for such dashing displays OF
football The N. u. teams are much
stronger than our New Zealand club
England unbeaten." This was a very
frank and sportsmanlike admission. In
fact throughout the tour the colonial
PLAYERS showed themselves to be true
sportsmen and were deservedly popu-
lar. Mr.. Baskerville, the manager, said
lust before sailing for home: we
want 10 express our heartfelt thanks
to the public for the way in which we
have been treated, both on and off the
field. The sporting crowds of Lanea-
shire and Yorkshire cannot be beaten
for enthusiasm and good sportsman
ship. The memories of this tour always
will linger with us.
Financially the tour was great sue
cess. After paying all expenses, the
PLAYERS received $1,000 each, and a sub
stantial balance was left to foster the
game in New Zealand.
In the season intervening between
the visits of the two New Zealand
teams South Africa sent over a fine
body of Rugby players, little, if any
inferior to the "All Blacks" The South
Africans were known as the Spring
boks." They played the amateur teams
as all the colonies are affiliated to the
amateur parent body, the English Rug
by union. Their tour was verv sue
cessful from every point of view. enor-
NOUS crowds witnessing their games
This coming fall England viii have
visit from a professional team organ
lied in New South Wales. Had they
been amateurs it might have been pos
sible to get them to travel viz, Sar
Francisco. However, there is at pres
emf team of Anglo-Welsh amateu
Rugby players touring New Zealand
which. it is believed, intends returning
home via Canada, upon the completion
of the tour. Endeavors should be mad
to get them to give exhibitions in san
Francisco and Los Angeles. 1t would
be an exceedingly attractive feature
and educational as well, because 10
Angeles especially never yet has seel
a passably good exposition of the Rug
by code.
A communication sent to A. F. Hard
ing, captain of the Anglo-Welsh Rugp
football club, Auckland, n. H.. or Gee
Harnett. the manager, might bring re
suits. A strong aggregation could b
got together in Southern Californis
sufficiently strong at least to make tn
contest fast and interesting.