20 JULY 1951, Page 16

Rugger and Rowing

SIR,—Janus is always a delight to read, though sometimes he is a little provocative, as when he asserts that " rowing, so far as Oxford and Cam- bridge are concerned, is stapreme among sports." Now may one who was not distinguished enough either to row in a-' togger " or to play in college rugger, though I represented the university in two minor contests, boxing and cross-country running, dare to express the opinion that Rugby football comes first at Oxford and that this is thy most coveted blue. Outside the universities, especially in London, the Boat Race is deservedly popular, but I doubt whether the crowds of university men at Putney would outnumber those at 'Twickenham.

In an article on rowing in the current issue of Oxford, such phrases occur as: " Serious rowing, as opposed to rugger eights, is not popular " " Many more dons will be found on the rugger ground than on the tow- Path " ;regain: " Can anything be done to make rowing more Popular? " As Janua Says: " Rowing is a strange sport," possiblybecause it is a Sedentary exercise, and this unavoidable handicap may explain why rowing blues seldom excel at other sports. In this year's University Cricket *latch I understand the Rugby footballers contributed largely to Oxford's