Players in a scrum throughout a rugby match are silhouetted by floodlights in 1933. Photograph: R. Wesley/Getty Photos
The assortment of Mr. H. G. Owen-Smith, of South Africa and Oxford, to perform in an English Rugby trial match has revived an ancient controversy. One particular London newspaper will have none of him simply because he is South African born, of South African mothers and fathers, and has played for South Africa at cricket. One more is all for the hospitable gesture, and would welcome to English teams any player from a Dominion who is living temporarily in the land of his fathers rather than deny him the possibility of international football for the duration of his prime.
There is one thing to be stated for the two points of view. Scotland, who has constantly allowed herself in this respect a licence surprising in one so strict on other points, gave many worldwide caps to an Egyptian who took place to be studying medicine at Edinburgh University this is carrying hospitality to the verge of importunity.
On the other hand, S. M. J. Woods, who played cricket for Australia on a birth qualification, realized his football at Brighton and spent all his playing daily life in England to deny him the opportunity of playing football for England would have been to inflict on him a significant hardship.
Some single worldwide rule is undoubtedly necessary. At current the football nations have only a “gentlemen’s agreement” that, in doubtful situations, the nation which 1st gives a trial to a player has thereby established 1st declare to him. This covers, however unsatisfactorily, the a lot of circumstances of gamers with a double British qualification, such as Welsh birth and English residence but it does not resolve the difficulty of Dominion players.
These fall below two primary headings – the guys who come to an English university or hospital and then return to their own country, and those who come for the very same objective but afterwards settle in England. It would seem equitable that the 2nd class should play in British international football, but that the initial ought to not.
If a minimum of 6 years’ unbroken residence were imposed as the only option to a birth qualification, the temporary site visitors would be in most circumstances excluded, and the long lasting settlers would qualify to perform for their adopted nation ahead of their powers had begun to decline.
Editorial: England rugby selectors pick South African: From the archive, 6 December 1933
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