TOURS NEXT YEAR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27376, 15 June 1954, Page 5

TOURS NEXT YEAR

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIA ACCEPTS N.Z. PROPOSALS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 14. Australia has accepted proposals for a tour by an All BlacK team in May and June of next year, and also a tour of New Zealand in August of the same year. Advice to this effect was ’ received today by the executive committee 'of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, which also received a reply from the Rugby Football Union (England) to a New Zealand invitation to send a team here in the next few years. The Rugby Football Union said the question would be discussed after the union’s annual meeting. The Irish Union advised that a similar invitation would be considered in September.

MAORI TEAM’S TOUR OF FIJI

NEW ITINERARY APPROVED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 14. The executive committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union today approved a new itinerary for the New Zealand Maori team’s tour, as submitted by the Fiji Union.

The itinerary, for eight matches, is:— August 5: v. Fiji Europeans, at Lautoka. August 7: v. Vatukoula Nadcoga, at Vatukoula.

August 11: v. Northern Districts Union, at Lautoka. August 14: First test, at Lautoka. August 17: v. Suva, at Suva. August 19: v. Rewa-Lamoiviti, at Suva. August 21: Second test, at Suva. August 24: Third test, at Suva. It was decided to tell Fiji that the noreplacements rule of international law would operate for the tour.

D. F. MENZIES INCLUDED IN MAORI TEAM

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 14. The Ponsonby and Auckland player, D. F. Menzies, had been included in the New Zealand Maori Rugby team to tour Fiji this season, said one of the selectors, Mr T. French, today. Menzies’ name was not included in the Press Association report of the selection.

DECISION TO CANCEL TOUR OF N.Z.

CALIFORNIAN UNION’S EXPLANATION (New Zealand. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 14. The main reasons for the cancellation of the tour were that five players had been unable to avoid military commitments and three others had been offered jobs they could not decline, said the Northern California Rugby Union, in a letter received today by the New Zealand Rugby Union. These defections, it said, left an unbalanced team, with questionable reserve strength. The cost of the tour would have been so great that a significant failure would have seriously jeopardised Rugby’s future in California, at a time when gratifying progress was being made. ELLESMERE SUB-UNKfN GAMES Results of games in the Ellesmere Rugby Sub-Union’s competition played on Saturday were:— Senior Grade.—Lincoln College A 28, Irwell 6; Prebbleton 28, Leeston 5: Lincoln College B 21, Lincoln 6; Burnham 28, Waihora 9; Southbridge B 22, United "Save (Peninsula) 8. Junior Grade.—Lincoln College 12, Irwell 0; Springston 3, Leeston 3; Dunsandel 41, Lincoln 0: Burnham won by default from Waihora; Southbridge' a bye; Southbridge 28. Burnham 0 (this match was set down for June 19).

Fourth Grade.—Prebbleton 9, Lincoln 5; Combined a bye. Fifth Grade.—Leeston 14, Dunsandel. 0;

Springston 16, Southbridge 0; Irwell 9, Lincoln 3; Waihora a bye. Position of Teams:—

Senior. —Lincoln College A: played 6, won 6, drawn 0. lost 0, for 101, against 34, points 12. Southbridge: 6,5, 0,1, 105, 44, 10. Prebbleton: 6,4, 0,2, 100, 54, 8. Lincoln College B: 6, 4. 0,2, 83 67, 8. Lincoln: 7,3, 0,3, 83. 106, 6. Burnham: 6,3, 0, 3, 74, 56, 6. Irwell: 6. 2. 0. 4, 41, 96, 4. Waihora: 6,1, 0,5, 49, 83, 2. Leeston: 7. 0,0, 7, 25, 121, 0.

Junior.—Southbridge: played 7, won 7, drawn 0, lost 0, for 132, against 11. points 14. Leeston: 7, 4. 2,1, 105, 57, 10. Dunsandel: 5. 4,1, 0, 130, 12, 9. Burnham: 7, 4,0, 3, 49, 61, 8. Springston: 6,3, 1, ?, 61, 73, 7. Irwell: 6. 1, 0. 5. 37. 83, 2. Waihora: 6,1, 0, 5. 38, 118, 2. Lincoln College: 5,1, 0,5, 49, 17, 2. Lincoln: 7, 0,0, 7, 15, 184, 0.

NORTHSOUTH MATCH

CAPTAINS APPOINTED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. June 14. The following appointments for the inter-island match were approved todry by the executive committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union:— North Island:—Captain, R. A. White; vice-captain, J. T. Fitzgerald. South Island.—Captain, W. A. McCaw, vice-captain, H. L. Smith.

FIJIAN TEAM BEATS VICTORIA, 42-12 (NJZ. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 14. ■ The touring Fijian Rugby Union team ibeat Victoria by 42 points to 12 at the South Melbourne ground today. The Fijians attacked from the beginning 'and led 19-3 at half-time.