RUGBY TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 8

RUGBY TOUR.

AUSTRALIANS ARRIVE.

FAST, YOUNG SIDE.

THE GAME IN AUSTRALIA,

NEW ZEALAND'S HELP

APPRECIATED.

Confident that they will win a good many more -matches than they will lose, the Australian Rugby Union football team arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Ulimaroa this morning. They leave by the Limited express this evening for Wellington on the way to Dunedin, where they will play the opening match of their tour against Otago next Saturday.

Apart from the fact that one or two members of the side were hopelessly seasick on the way over, all arrived fit and well. They were met by Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, who arrived from Wellington yesterday, Mr. H. Frost, chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, and Mr. Arthur Tilly, an official of the Auckland Union. "This is probably the best side that has ever left Australia," said Mr. T. C. Davis, manager of the team. "It is a young side, with plenty of speed —and confidence. I think we are sure to give a good account of ourselves." ' Rugby Union Well Established. The Rugby Union game was coming right back 'into its own in Australia, said Mr. Davis. One of the best known critics of the game in Australia, Mr. Ward Prentice, after watching the recent match between Manly and Eastern Suburbs for the final of the Sydney championship, said the game produced brilliant Rugby, quite up to the old Australian standard of play. "We are well established now, and 1 think that we will never look back," said Mr. Davis, "and for that we have to thank New Zealand. We are ever "rateful for what New Zealand has done for us, and we realise that the help we have received from New Zealand, and that alone, has made such tours as these possible. After the war we found oiirselves with a debit balance, but visits by Xew Zealand teams, which always create great interest, soon helped us over the hurdle. They have always treated us most generously; they have always taken the financial risk." "Still Out to Learn." "New Zealand has taught us many football things, and we are still out to learn what we can—that's what we are here for," said Mr. S. J. Malcolm, captain of the team. "The game is going ahead in leaps a-nd bounds in Australia. In Sydney we frequently get 10,000 people to watch club matches. Our game is the open game, and we throw the ball about at every opportunity." There are two men with the side who hail from Auckland. W. H. Hemingway was born here, and G. D. F. Darke, the masseur, belonged to Thames for many year?. He was also masseur to tho British team during their Australian tour last year. With the exception of Malcolm, Cerutti, .Tudd and Towers, all members of the team are making their first Rugby trip to New Zealand. Judd was a-member of the 1925 team which came this way. Malcolm, Cerutti and Towers were over here in 1928, with Malcolm as captain. The party comprises 14 players from New South Wales, nine from Queensland, and two from Victoria. It is the first Australian side to contain representatives of three Australian states and the first time an Australian team has toured Xew Zealand since 1913. The team is: —

Full-backs: Dr. A. W. Ross and J. C. Steggall.

Three-quarters: W. H. Hemingway, H A. Tolhuvst, G. T. B. Palmer, C. H Towers, H. V. Herd and P. A. Clark.

Five-eighths: H. E. Primrose and D. L. Cowper.

Half-backs: S. J. Malcolm and W. G Bennett.

Forwards: W. H. Cerutti, E. T. Bonia, M. R. Blair, W. Ritter, E. W. Love, F. J. Whyatt, B. Judd, M. C. White J G Clarke, J. F. Reville, J* R. L. Palfrevmaii, 0. L. Bridle, T. G. Perrin.