The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-05
Rugby Coach
Returns From
The AntipOdes
Schaeffer Gains Valuable Kn0wI-
edge of Game i'm AuSfraIia
and New Zealand
By WILLIAM UNMAcK

Rugby Coach James G. Schaener,
who has been in Australia and New
Zealand for three months studying the
Rugby methods Of those countries. re-
turned on the Alameda Tuesday.
Schaeffer is enthusiastic over his visit
and has nothing but the warmest
praise for the open heartedness and
enthusiastic manner in which he was
welcomed by the Rugby officials in
the lands of the southern cross.
Everywhere he went Rugby unions.
clubs and individuals received him
with open arms. and everything pos
sible was done to make the Yankee"
feel at home and further the interests
of the mission on which he had come.
He discussed the rules from every
standpoint with the foremost exponents
of the game-players and referees. He
found the cOlOnials only too pleased to
give him the information he asked. and
he returned to his alma mater with a
firm grasp of the rules and qualified
in every way to turn out first class
team.
In New Zealand the Rugby union
took him in hand. and W. Wallace. r.
Roberts and J. Duncan were always at
the service of their American cousin"
These men were members OF the IA
nous All Blacks that toured the
world in 1905 and played the British
Columbia team in this city in Febru-
airy, 1906. He witnessed number OF
interclub championship fixtures in
Auckland and other parts of New Zea-
land and gained valuable data from
closely following all the games.
In New South Wales the Rugby
union extended Schaener a hearty well
come. He witnessed numbers OF the
club games and saw many of the in
tercollegiate games in sydney. He
was given the opportunity TO play in
several games, and gained much
valuable practical information by TAX
ing part in these contests. He also
witnessed the annual interstate strug-
gle between Queensland and New South
Wales. Most of the members OF the
New South Wales team and several of
the Queensland team were members OF
the famous Wallaby team that played
here this year. New South Wales won
in a decisive fashion. and at a ban
quet after the match the president of
the New South Wales union presented
the ball used in the game to Schaener.
The ball bears the autographs OF the
members OF both teams.
The alterations in the Rugby rules.
as adopted in Queensland. are said to
considerably open up the game. The
rule relative to throwing the ball in
FIVE yards from touch especially is said
10 make the game considerably more
open. Schaeffer did not visit Queens
land. The rules are we'll spoken OF
by all who witnessed the games in
the northern state.
Billy Howe (MOther). whom Schaef-
fer selected as assistant coach. will not
arrive until the end OF the month.
Schaeffer selected Howe as being the
most competent coach in either New
Zealand or Australia. Howe has had
Rugby experience, having
been a New South Wales representa-
tive player in 1897. OF late years he
has attained considerable note as a
coach, and as referee he is one of
the best in Australia, being on the
referees examination board of the
referees union and the
New South Wales referees associa-
ton.
California university opens August
16. and Coach Schaeffer will call out
the Rugby squad as soon as possible.