ALL BLACK TOUR OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 11

ALL BLACK TOUR OF BRITAIN

DETAILS ALMOST COMPLETE

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, March 9. The organisation of the All Blacks’ tour of the British Isles next season seems already to have been largely completed. Details of only two matches remain to be settled, and it is expected that the entertainment programme will be drafted by representatives of the four home unions and the captain and manager of the team at Eastbourne. Except for the North-eastern Counties’ match, all grounds have been decided. It is not yet certain whether the North-eastern Counties’ match will be played at Bradford or Headingley. The proposed date for the international game with France is February 27, 1954 the day on which England is scheduled to play France. It is presumed that the Rugby Union will arrange another date for the French match with England. It is proposed that the All Blacks will remain in London for two nights after their arrival by air on October 19. No engagement is planned for that evening. , On the next evening, the All Blacks will be the guests of officials of the four home unions at a dinner at the Armourers’ Hall. About 60 persons will attend. On October 21, the team will travel to Eastbourne, where it will have eight days for training before the first match of the tour with the Southern Counties. It is expected that representatives of each of the four home unions will also go to Eastbourne, and there discuss with the hew Zealand captain and manager a programme of entertainment offered by the unions. Visit to Windsor Castle After the match against the Southern Counties, the New Zealand team will return to London, and on November 2 will travel to Windsor, where members will be entertained by Lord and Lady Freyberg at lunch in the Northern Tower of Windsor Castle. Lord Freyberg, who by that time will have taken up his appointment as Deputy-Constable and LieutenantGovernor of the castle, plans to show the team round the castle after lunch. On the next day the All Blacks will be the guests of the British Sportsmen’s Club at a luncheon which the Duke of Edinburgh will attend. After this initial period, the tour will continue with plenty to keep the team interested, both on and off the field, until the members leave London on March 3 by air for Vancouver, by way of New York and Toronto. They will visit the Niagara Falls. In order that New Zealanders visiting Britain may see the international games and the match against Barbarians—which is roughly the equivalent of a British Isles team—a substantial number of tickets will be made available. Arrangements are being made for their sale at New Zealand House.