RUGBY FOOTBALL FIJIAN TEAM ARRIVES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26477, 19 July 1951, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL FIJIAN TEAM ARRIVES

SEVEN WEEK TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

FIRST MATCH AGAINST THAMES VALLEY

(New Zealand Press Association; k AUCKLAND. July 18. we have come here to learn," said M. I>nau*‘lS.rh 1 > na u*‘ l S. rh th ® TW lan Ru B b y team (Mr L. R. Martin and Mr P. K. Raddock >, to-day, after the arrival of the team oy ?«r,n fr< i m .u* u y i a to begin a seven-week tour of the Dominion. ven of Players arrived at the Whenuapai air station this morning. The !,f at M?' l , th ?'. p 8 i tv arrived by flying.boat at Mechanic s Bay in the afternoon. The team then left for Te Aroha, where it will remain until after its first match, against Thames Valley, next Wednesday. . .«? ?°Pf ,!°.u play our traditionally bright football throughout the tour, while our main object will be to learn and assimilate the new ideas of Rugby." said Mr Martin. "We have been out of touch with some of the new thoughts tn Rugby. However, youth predominates in the team, and we hope that it will benefit from the experience. "We have held many trials, and have been through a thorough system of weeding -out for a long time before the side was chosen. It is a very representative team, and there is a player from every union in Fiji. Although the pack is lighter than the 1930 side, this should be compensated for by the bright and open style which we hope to play." Mr Raddock, who is co-manager and coach, expressed confidence in the fast backs in the team. He said the team might be able to teach something unorthodox and also learn something orthodox. He hoped that the cold weather would not have too bad an effect upon the side--Mr Raddock has had a distinguished record in Rugby, cricket, and hockey. He visited New Zealand with the Fijian hockey team in 1939, and was the wicketkeeper for the 1948 Fijian cricket side. Making his third visit to the Dominion with Fijian sporting teams is Mr G. K. Cakabou. In 1939, Mr Cakabou was captain of the unbeaten Fijian Rugby team, and toured again with the 1948 cricketers. He is acting as a liaison officer for the Fijian Government on the present tour. Mr Cakabou is looking forward to renewing friendships formed on the previous tours and during the Second World War. WAIKATO BEATS BUSH (New Zealand Press Association) PAHIATUA, July 18. The Waikato touring Rugby team today beat Bush at Rugby Park, Pahiatua. by 22 points to fl. The Waikato backs were far superior. For Waikato tries were scored by Brunskill, Roberts (3), and O’Hearn- Clarke converted two tries and kicked two penalty goals. For Bush Humphreys and Algie kicked penalty goals.