The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
Public Is Interested
in Rugby Football
Beginning to Understand the
Game and Applaud Good
Playing
By William Unnlack

That the public is becoming deeply
interested in Rugby was made apparent
by the large attendance at the games
last week. More enthusiasm is dis
played than was apparent last year.
The public is fast picking up the points
of the game and is quick in its ap-
plause for or denunciation of players
for what they do or don't do.
The Rugby form SHOWN by the Cali
fOrnia freshmen in their first TWO
games is, / believe. better than that
displayed at so early a stage last year.
They seem TO have a better grasp Of
the rules. and their general ideas on
taking openings and opportunities are
The Pacific Coast Rugby referees
union has been deluged with requests
for referees and it is feared that it
VIII not be able to supply the demand
as the season advances. Already there
are seven active referees. but more are
needed. The first weekly meeting of
the union viii take place tomorrow
night at the Olympic club, when i'm
pOrtant business VIII be transacted.
Referees will be appointed for the
matches during the week.
4 LARGE ATTENDANCE OF RUGBY
Comparisons are odorous," runs the
old saying but comparisons have been
made In the Rugby world since the
Barbarians and Olympics played their
first games. Yet il is not necessary to
compare the two teams. as there is
such a great difference between them.
one is an aggregation of thoroughly
experienced Rugby men. able to play
the game under all conditions and
know just when, where and why to do
the right thing The other is a partly
experienced team and has yet TO learn
the ''wlren. where's and why's of it all.
IL viii not be long. however before il
knows it all" and I really believe that
with the material at hand il will turn
out a team that viii defeat its more
experienced opponents before the end
In one Of the early Sunday practice
games the Olympics did defeat the Bar
barians, but at least five of the best
men on the latter were away playing
cricket. This naturally made differ
ence. Judging by the form the Barba-
rlans showed last week, 1 doubt if
there is a team on the Pacific coast
that could defeat them at present The
Olympics We're expected to perform
better than they did last week but the
game was good lesson to them and
they viii benefit greatly by it.
lnterclass Rugby games arranged at
stanford VIII. be a boon to the play
ers there. The idea is a splendid one.
and viii give every man a chance to
show his ability and be in line for Sc
lection 20 the principal matches 1t
VIII prove of value TO the coaches. who
VIII be able to observe the different
players more closely. game that
would attract considerable public in
terest in Rugby circles would be one
between a combined California state
team versus Vancouver Rugby union.
when the latter is here on its annual
visit. BY combined state team / mean
that the very best players should be
selected from California and stanford
universities and the Barbarians. OIvrn-
pic and Los Angeles teams. If there
were any men on the smaller college
teams or high schools who were pro-
ncient enough and showed as much
ability a s the senior men they. too. ought
70 De considered. Such a team would
be tremendously strong aggregation.
and have no hesitation in saying that
1t could defeat the northern union and
would even stand good chance against
the Australian Rugby men.
This week Will be busy one in Rug
by circles. On Wednesday st. Mary's
college Will play its first game. its on
ponent TO be San Jose high school. This
school won the league championship last
year and has had a good team out. The
Barbarians viii meet Stanford varsity
at Palo Alto on Saturday. the OIym-
pic club viii go against California var
sity, and the California freshmen will
play the university of the Pacific ar
Berkeley. St Mary's college also has
game scheduled.