The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29

receiNtN
which stated
that the Australian manager. Captain
J. MahOn, had virtually agreed
play your teams" y
This is good news and VIII pc re-
ceived with delight by all Rugby en-
thusiasts of this state. The letter reads
as follows:
Many thanks for your letter. have
at last been able to have long meeting
with Captain ]. Mahon. manager OF the
Australian team. He has virtually
agreed TO play your teams. but ne Is
leaving the details in the hands Of Reg
gle Woodward to whom he is writing
today"
The letter is dated London. Novem-
Der IL. and. is from G.. n. Harnett. man
ager of the British Rugby team that
played in Vancouver last month Har-
nett Is well known in British Rugby
circles. and it is through his instru-
mentality that the Australians have
ish Columbia
1t is probable that stanford will put
its team in the field against the Aus
tralians, or Walabies. as they have
been nicknamed in England. IL is
doubtful if California will be able to
play them. but 1t is to be hoped that
the blue and gold can see their way
to game
union will no doubt communicate with
the Australians at once, officially, and
this body will make arrangements for
POSSIBLY three games with the visitors
one game each with the Olympics and
Barbarians and the third will be an
America. This team would be selected
California. Olympic. Barbarian and Los
Angeles teams. \ splendid combination
could be got together and one that
would make good fight
From last reports of the Wdllabies
/ they had played 10 games. won nine
and lost one. and had scored about 200
] points. ThiS is splendid record and
! 1t can easily be seen the local Rugby
I talent Will have to be in a splendid
humor TO defeat the Wallabies.
In the event of Stanford and California
not playing the team it is certain these
two universities will give the referees
union great deal of support to make
the visit an assured success. Both
Stanford and California are in favor of
the all America team. and their men
wiz be eligible for the team.
Reggie Woodward has been com
municated with in regard to the visit
and further particulars from him are
expected during the week.
Some time ago the Pacific coast ref
erees' union communicated with the
/ British Rugby union, seeking afhliation
/ with that body
/ Word has been received that the pro-
posed "afhliatiOn from America" was
| receiving hearty support in London
| from Rugby men. and the application
was to be placed before the British
/ Rugby union committee next week 1t
/ is practically certain that the applica-
\ tiOn will be passed on favOrably. As
/ the season is at an end here, not much
direct good Will result at present, but
the benefit to be derived by Rugby foot
/ ball in California in the future through
I this affiliatiOn will be immense.
With the Rugby game last Thursday
the season for 1908 came to a close. and
/ from every point OF view the season
has been an unprecedented success.
The game itself has taken with the
public At the universities greater
progress in the finer points has been
made than ever before and those points
and departments Of the game that were
fairly well known have been improved
to such perfection that the men. both as
individuals and a team have made
rapid strides toward making the Rugby
played really first class.
Three high schools started the sea
son with the Rugby game. and three
more came into the fold, making a total
of six schools that have now taken
| Rugby in preference to the old game
In the early part of the season a
Rugby referees union was formed and
Ii has materially helped in the advance
ment of the game. The union has sup
piled referees for nearly 40 games this
year. and this large increase Of games
over last year is certainly proof posi-
tive OF the advancement the game is
making.
Two city club teams were in the
field this year. Last year the Bar
barians were the only team playing the
game other than the universities and
colleges This season the Olympic club
put team in the field, and il is a
winged 90 supporters TO have their
aggregation win the club championship
after only three months active par
ticipatl0n in the sport Taking all
these things into consideration one can
easily see how quickly the game is be-
ing learned and played scientifically.
There is vet lots TO learn in Rugby for
the men here. and the only way 1t viii
be learned properly is to play against
thoroughly experienced teams. These
teams can not be found in this country.
So hn fc 10 crcf
Australian. New Zealand and British
Rugby unions to send teams to u.s. II
can be done At Honolulu Rugby Is
being played now. and II is not beyond
the range OF possibility that teams
from California and the islands will
be exchanging visits before many
seasons have gone by
W. \. Churton. who was manager o<
the Vancouver team that visited here
a few weeks ago. when interviewed on
his return. mad the following to say
abeut the referees and the referees
union of California:
II find that the referees. although do
ing their best. were not up to the
standard of those We are accustomed to.
up here. OF the four. only one kept up
with the game: the others ALWAYS
seemed TO be about a mile away from
the play. In the two matches against
University of California we were bv
no means given the best of it by the
referees, but against Stanford the ref
erees We're more impartial in their de-
ctsions, which helped us a great deal
In San Francisco they have board
of referees. which supplies referees For
all games in California. and they are
doing good work for Rugby. having
gotten nearly all the high schools 10
play Rugby instead of the old Ameri-
can game
The Rugby schedule Of the Vancouver
union is also given in the same paDer
and the Stanford games for the Coonar
kelln challenSe cup are down for com
petition on December 25. %, and Janu-
ary l. The two games on followfn q
days Will be big tasks for the cardfnai
men, 1t Is really too much to asE !.
team TO play two hard games on -
consecutive days e"B
Stanford's chances for annexinu tbt.
magnificent challenge cup apnear ,tal.s lis
bright and even should thev lose ~
game on December 26. they. ourht =.
nave good chance for victsrr ss