RUGBY FOOTBALL APPOINTMENTS OF SELECTORS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27473, 6 October 1954, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL APPOINTMENTS OF SELECTORS

PROTESTS BY SOUTH (I ISLAND UNIONS t —— (1 N.Z. COUNCIL MAY HOLD £ SPECIAL MEETING E H (New Zealand Press Association) * WELLINGTON. October 5. G Since the council of the New Zeeland 2. Rugby Union decided at Auckland m sj August that national and island teams during the next two seasons should oe c chosen by a panel comprising three North v Island and two South Island selectors. s< several protests have been received from South Island unions. The executive com- a mittee of the New Zealand Union decided * at its meeting last night to advise coun- 1 cil members by circular of the southern protests, and to seek opinions on what a should be done. L The executive committee considers that the matter is not one for a postal vote. ( and also that the matter can hardly be z deferred until the February meeting of <- the council. If a special meeting of the council is considered necessary, the » executive committee suggests holding it on November 19. . J, FRENCH TEAM’S = VISIT NEGOTIATIONS ON ’ DETAILS THREE TESTS SOUGHT BY i NEW ZEALAND ; i (New Zealand Press Association) ’ WELLINGTON. October 5. I The French Rugby Union has advised ’ the New Zealand Rugby Union that it is prepared to send a team to the Dominion : in 1957 for a tour of 10 matches during July and August. In the earlier negotiations the French • union had said that the leave problem would limit the tour to between 35. and 40 days, which included travelling time. |

This would allow for about five to seven games. The. French union now suggests two tests and a touring party of 30 players and two managers for the 10-match programme. This number is essential, it says, as all the games will be hard ones and recent experience of a tour of Argentina indicates that 30 players are required. The New Zealand union decided to sug--1 gest three tests and a party of 25 players with two managers. , The chairman (Mr C. S. Hogg) said that the short tour of 10 matches would be costly, and the extra test would be needed ito recoup costa. Mr J. N. Millard thought the tour could .be carried through adequately with 25 players. On the recent topr of the All Blacks 35. matches had been played witn a party of 30. and this had been found ample. Mr T. C. Morrison said that the Australian teams touring this country nad found 25 players sufficient.