ARRIVAL OF RUGBY PLAYERS

The Dalhousie University and All Halifax rugby football squads, consisting of about 35 men, reached Boston yesterday afternoon by the Dominion Atlantic steamer Prince George. The men went directly to the Quincy House, and from there by special car to Soldiers Field, where a 45-minute practice game between the two teams was held.

The rugby game, as it is played by Dalhousie University, is fundamentally different from American football. In 1876 English Rugby was being played on both sides of the Atlantic. Since that time the game has undergone great changes both in England and America. Rugby football, as it will be played in the Stadium tomorrow, is the modern English game. Each team is composed of 15 men--eight forwards, two halfbacks, 4 three-quarter backs, and one fullback.

The game starts with a kickoff from centre-field. The player who receives the ball may either pass it back to one of his own team or kick. Usually he "punts into touch," that is, he punts the ball out of bounds. The ball is then thrown into play by one of the halfbacks. The forward who catches the ball tries to break away, but is usually tackled and the ball "held," that is, one or more players of the opposite side get their hands on it. Then comes the most distinctive feature of the game, the scrimmage. The eight forwards on each side lock arms over the ball, while the two halfbacks oppose each other shoulder to shoulder. An arch is thus formed and the ball tossed in. The players may then do one of three things, push straight ahead, "screw the scrum," or heel the ball out altogether. In either of the first two cases, the object is to break away and dribble the ball. Dribbling consists of rushing the ball down the field by a series of short kicks along the ground. In the third case, if the ball is heeled out of the scrimmage, it is snapped up by one of the halfbacks, who may kick, run with the ball, or pass it to the other half or one of the three-quarter backs. The usual play is to pass to the other halfback, who in turn passes back to the nearest three-quarter back. The ball is then carried down the field by a series of swift runs and passes by the three-quarter backs, each man passing the ball when about to be tackled.

The one feature of the Rugby game that distinguishes it from the American game is that interference is prohibited. No man may be interfered with or blocked unless he is carrying the ball. The object of the game is to down the ball back of the opponents goal line. A touchdown scored in this way counts 3 points, and a goal from the touchdown adds 2 points. A goal from the field counts 4 points. For interference, grabbing the ball out of a scrimmage, tripping, etc., a free kick may be given to the opposing side. A free kick counts 3 points.

In the secret practice yesterday afternoon in the Stadium, Dalhousie kicked to Halifax. The halfback returned the kick, which was touched out. Several scrimmages followed, in which neither side had any special advantage. Both teams punted frequently, Halifax having a slight advantage on account of the wind. After ten minutes of play Halifax made a safety touch and Dalhousie kicked out from the 25-yard line. After several more scrimmages Dalhousie, by clever dodging and passing of the three-quarter backs, carried the ball over for the first touchdown. No try for goal was made.

Dalhousie punted out from Halifax's 25-yard line and the ball went into touch. No further score was made until near the end of the period, when Halifax's halfback broke away, after a scrimmage, and by good running and passing scored a touchdown. Dalhousie then braced and scored another touchdown, but interference was claimed and a scrimmage was allowed on Halifax's 5-yard line. The ball was heeled out and passed to the three-quarter back, who kicked a clean goal. Time was then called. Score: Dalhousie, 7: Halifax, 3. Secret practice will be held again this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Tickets for the exhibition game tomorrow are on sale at Leavitt and Peirce's, the office of the Athletic Association, and at Wright and Ditson's in Boston. Reserved seats are $1.00; admission 50 cents. These tickets also admit to the Freshman game with Cushing, which will take place before the Rugby game. H. A. A. tickets will not admit to these games.

The Dalhousie and Halifax teams will be entertained at dinner this evening by the Canadian Club of Boston, and tomorrow evening by the Harvard Canadian Club. The teams will probably not return to Canada until Tuesday