RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25448, 20 March 1948, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SELECTION OF ALL BLACKS GROUNDS FOR TRIAL MATCHES <P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 19. The places where the 16 trials for the selection of the New’ Zealand Rugby team to tour South Africa next year will be played were fixed-by the New Zealand Rugby Union Council to-day. The dates of the matches will be decided later. The programme is as follows: North Island.—l, Auckland v. North Auckland, at Auckland; 2, King Country and Bay of Plenty v. Thames Valley and Waikato, at Hamilton; 3, East Coast and Poverty Bay v. Hawke’s Bay, at Gisborne; 4, Taranaki and Horowhenua v. Wanganui and Manawatu, at Wanganui; 5, Bush, and Wairarapa v. Wellington, at Mastertbn; A versus B from Nos. 1,2. and 3 (except Hawke’s Bay), at Auckland; A versus B from Nos. 4 and 5 (and Hawke's Bay), at Palmerston North; Possibles v. Probables (North Island), at Wellington; final New Zealand trial, at Wellington.

South Island.—l, Buller and Nelson v. Marlborough and* Golden Bay, at Nelson; 2, Canterbury v. West Coast, at Christchurch; 3, South Canterbury v. Ashburton and North Otago, at Timaru; 4, Otago v. Southland, at Invercargill; A versus B from Nos. 1. and 2, at Westport; A versus B from Nos. 3 and 4, at Dunedin; Possibles v. Probables (South Island), at Christchurch.

The chairman (Mr S. S. Dean) said the latest advice from shipping companies indicated that there were now bright prospects for the South African tour.