SPRINGBOKS' TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 243, 13 October 1936, Page 17

SPRINGBOKS' TOUR.

THREE OR FOUR TESTS? N.Z. UNION'S ATTITUEE, NO BARGAIN WITH SOUTH AFRICA. £ v . ;■ (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Referring to the ! South African letter published yesterday regarding the Springboks' tour, the Hon. Jas. McLeod, M.L.C., who is a member of the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, says that as far as he -is aware the union had never considered till last week the question of the South Africans bringing over 32 players. The request was then declined. The union did not at any time oflfer to accept three j additional players if the Springboks would play four Tests. ' I . "The New Zealand Union had been negotiating with the Australian Union for j their views on the proposal," said Mr. t McLeod. "The New Zealand Union had# never asked for more than three Tests. Australia, however, had asked for. three, and to this New Zealand offered no objection, except that it would prolong the tour three or four days. Owing to sailing dates from Africa and New Zealand, it is only possible to play 17 matches here unless the tour be extended to the second week in October, which is beyond the regular Rugby season in New Zealand. Moreover, it would be useless playing more matches after the last Vest, owing to lack of interest. Also it was considered hopeless playing Test matches in October." A Press Association telegram from Wellington stated:— "A Wellington Rugby enthusiast has received a private letter from Capetown revealing that the New Zealand Rugby Union suggested ta tl e South African Rugby Board that, as a quid pro quo for bringing 32 players, the Springboks should play four Test matches in New Zealand I and three in Australia. "This was unanimously declined at an emergency meeting of the South African Board, all the delegates considering that five international games in one tour wer.; sufficient for the players. They quoted in support of this view the opinions of the 1928 All Blacks and 1933 Wallabies when in South Africa. The board, however. offered to defray the expenses of the extra three players. The New Zealand Union has since conveyed to the board that the touring party should be only 29 as usual. "It is understood in South Africa that there will be 21 games in New Zealand and eight in Australia, but it is stated in Wellington that there will be only 17 in New Zealand."