The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
Amateurs and Tours
of the Globe
Question Raised By Scotch and
Irish Rugbuitcs in Refusal TO
Co TO australia
By William Cnn1aCk

In view OF the Importance attached
to the visit OF the English Rugby team
to Australia and New Zealand. i have
taken a few clippings from the Bris-
bsne Sports Observer or March ii which
VIII be of interest to all amateur
sportsmen in general in this state and
elsewhere. 1t will be noticed that both
Ireland and Scotland refused to have
anything to do with the visit of the
team to the antiDodes. giving as their
reason that such visits tended 10 do
more harm TO pure amateurism than
good. This reason is good one as far
as ( goes To be i pure amateur and
mold his amateur status man on such
visits would have to pay all his own
expenses. This is simply out OF the
question for 80 per cent of the players,
and il always will remain the same as
long as England and Australia ex-
change visits of their respective cricket
aud football teams
I doubt tin the strict and literal sense
of the amateur rule) IL II would be pos
sible to get together a pure amateur
team IN any part of the world to make
a tour of the globe. For this reason
then. / do not think the Scotch and
Irish Rugby unions did wise thing In
taking a back seat in the visit or the
team to New Zealand.
This team is now on its way TO Aus
tralia and plays in New Zealand first
and then goes over to Australia
The New South Wales team leaves
for England in August and the meet
ing of this state with the English team
in Australia first will give Rugby mer
in Australia a good idea of the type of
team the "Cornstaiks" will have to
meet few months later in England
under different climatic conditions.
RI contained follow =
ing clippings will also be of deep in
terest 10 the universities here and will
give a good idea as to how strongly
opposed 10 professionalism" the public
is Ia England and Australia:
The tour OF the Britishers is primarily IN
supremacy which wss lost 10 the old eountr.
I on the occasion Of the All Blacks trleinphan
visit. but in subsidiary sense II IS infende'
moral support 20 the Rugby unions OF boil
Australia and New zealand in their nght sSsins
the spread OF professionalism
The composition and personnel Of the British
team, the names OF which were published fev
DAYS ago are naturally the subject of consider
HE interest IN Australian Rugby circles. II,
less than in New Zealand IL may be said a
once that the outstanding feature In connection
with the team is the entire absence from II @
both Scotch and Irish players. due to the fac
that the Scotch and Irish unions took the view
that oversee international visits instead OF help
ing 70 maintain the amateur character OF IN
game. were mainly responsible for the growt
Of professionalism and in support Of this the.
pointed to the formation of the professional team
Of New Zealanders who. with the avowed obJec
OF making seasons football as successful
commercial speculation possible. organized tn
recent tour and paid their own way 10 Enslan
20 meet the nothern union clubs trusting TO o
gate receipts for the successful outcome OF tn
venture and trusting not in vain; These Ne,
Zealand professionals. according TO the Scot.
and Irish Rugby authorities. out and out be
levers in strict smateurism and in sport 70
the sake of sport, came into existence as
result OF the financially successful tours, mrs
Of the All Blacks and next OF the South Arr
cfded not to support the scheme for sendin
the team OF British amateurs 10 the colonies an
accordingly none Of their players are includes
in the present visiting team.
The question then naturally arises. Is tn
team really representative of the best Rugb.
football Of the United Kingdom? Critics an
experts may answer this question as they VIII
but the fact remains that the noninclusion Q
Scotch and Irish players detracts considerable
from its representative character. Nevertheless
/ In the players selected there is ample ms
ard of the best International football. The In
elusion OF four OF FIVE OF the leading Scotc
/ forwards would have strengthened IL immensely
because it is universally recognized that for soil
and brillisncy snd dash in the open the Scotc
| forwards unezcelled. The Irish forward
also have splendid reputation. and ii is
matter for regret that the colonial teams VT
1 not hare opportunity OF putting their proves
( 70 the test. So far. however, the back d.
pertmeuts are concerned. the solicitors Of th
tain what they wanted among the English an
Welsh clubs. despite the fact that there al
plenty OF home experts who say that Scotlan
aud Ireland possess the two best three-quartel
in the United Kingdom in the persons Of Ker
meth Mcleod OF Cambridge university and Hsrr
Thrift Of Trinity college, Dublin. Individually
quarter In sny Of the four Rugby centers q
horne.