Touring tradition faces test of time

TOURING teams from the southern hemisphere have been visiting these islands for almost 110 years. In the early days, the tours from New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia were infrequent. Modern travel changed that. More recently, the advent of the World Cup and the desire to generate revenue were key elements in increasing the flow of traffic across the equator in both directions.

Tours are now regular features of the rugby calendar. Not so long ago, the Lions carried the flag for the home unions to the southern hemisphere and southern hemisphere countries came to these islands to play matches in all four home countries on what some termed Grand Slam tours. Now visits from the major powers in the southern hemisphere to play in just two countries or, indeed, one, have become much more frequent. As have tours by individual unions in this part of the world to countries south of the equator.

Professionalism is adding a further dimension - for all the wrong reasons. It would be nice to think that it was the propagation of the game that is at the root of the increased levels of touring. It is not, of course. It is very much about money. The attempt by England to get a match against Australia on the current tour proved unsuccessful as the other unions stood firm and kept the Barbarians fixture on the schedule. The World Cup - just about the worst thing that that has happened to change the face of rugby union - is also in my view more about money than it is about glory.

Rugby did not absorb the lessons of the Olympic movement. The amateur ethic on which it was founded is now a sick joke. That, too, is about money and exaggerated nationalism, not to mention medical ingenuity. Like the Olympics, rugby has powerful elements within the game who see television money as their priority. Rugby, it seems, is determined to take Premiership football in England as the blueprint for the way forward. The game is being sold short. Pay per view looms on the horizon for rugby internationals here and south of the equator.

While the novelty aspect of tours from the big three in the southern hemisphere is no longer a factor, there is still a very exciting element about the visit of major touring teams. They add variety to the scene. That factor may diminish with the increased touring.

THIS afternoon, at Thomond Park, our current visitors Australia will bring the Irish part of their tour to an end. It is an appropriate time to reflect on the first tours to and from these islands.

The first tour by a British side was comprised of English and Scottish players who went to Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 1888. It was a tour marked, too, by tragedy as the team captain, Robert Seddon from England, was drowned while sculling on the River Maitland in New South Wales.

The first visitors to these islands were the New Zealand Maoris in 1888. That was four years before the New Zealand Rugby Union was formed. At a time when we hear so much talk about pressure on players and the financial hardships of competing in international rugby, it is worth reflecting on the itinerary the Maoris undertook.

They played 74 matches on that tour in Britain and Ireland. The number of players in the party was only 26. It had been originally decided that the team would be entirely made up of native players. But four whites were included to strengthen the squad. However, all the players were born in New Zealand.

Prior to leaving for the tour, nine matches were played in New Zealand as preparation. They also played two matches in Australia en route to Britain. That was followed by the 74 matches in Ireland and Britain. The first was on October 3rd, 1888 and the last against Southern Counties in Leyton on March 27th 1889. On their way back to New Zealand they played 14 more matches in Australia and on their return to New Zealand they play another seven for a total of 107.

They played only three matches in Ireland. They played Ireland at Lansdowne Road on December 1st, 1988. That was only the fifth international played at the ground and the Maoris were Ireland's first overseas opponents. Ireland were short four of their leading players and lost the match by four goals and one try to one goal and one try a 13-4 defeat in the scoring values of the time. The attendance at the match was 3,000.

The Maoris also played Trinity College at College Park on December 3rd, two days after the international. Trinity drew with the tourists - one goal and one try each. Trinity have the distinction of being the first Irish side to get a draw with a touring team. On December 5th, the Maoris played against NIFC in Belfast and won by two goals to nil. It was not until a very famous day at Thomond Park in October 1978, when Munster beat the All Blacks 12-0, that an Irish side beat a New Zealand touring team.

The Maoris, however, are the side that fashioned the touring tradition from the southern hemisphere. Although the 1905 All Blacks played Munster and won 33-0, the only provincial team touring teams played prior to the second World War was Ulster.

Ulster actually drew 3-3 with the 1935 All Blacks at Ravenhill. Remarkably Leinster's first match against a major touring team was not until 1957 when they lost to Australia 10-8. Leinster had played the New Zealand Services side just after the war, but they were not an official international touring team. The cancellation of the match against Australia last Tuesday was a severe disappointment for Leinster, who have yet to win against one of the big three from the southern hemisphere.

The first international between Ireland and Australia was on November 12th, 1927 at Lansdowne Road. That was a New South Wales team, the Waratahs, but it was recognised as an official international. New South Wales represented Australia in those days rugby was not played in Queensland between 1919 and 1929. Australia won the match 5-3.

In the post-war era, it was the Wallabies who were the first touring team to visit these shores. They beat Ireland 16-3 at Lansdowne Road. Three days later they played Munster in a memorable match at the Mardyke in Cork and won with a try in the last minute. Munster's performance that afternoon was the forerunner to some great displays by the province against touring teams.

I am quite sure that the performance that afternoon was crucial in helping to fashion Munster's renowned tradition against the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks. The Maoris of 1888 certainly started something that has enriched rugby through the years.