COLTS’ TOUR OF CEYLON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27690, 21 June 1955, Page 6

COLTS’ TOUR OF CEYLON

155 NOMINATIONS RECEIVED TRIAL TEAMS TO BE CHOSEN ON JULY 8 (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. One hundred and fifty-five nominations have been received by the New Zealand Rugby Union for the tour of Ceylon by a colts' team, even though each member of the team will have to pay £250 towards his expenses. ‘‘lt says a lot for the future of this country when here we have about £40,000 available for a Rugby tour,” said Mr J. H. Parker when this was announced at a meeting of the executive committee of the union today. The team will be the guests of the Ceylon Rugby Union, which will find the rest of the cost. Of the 155 nominations, 199 are from the North Island and 36 from the South Island. The South Island unions confined the nominations to players between 18 and 22 years of age. The North Island nominees range from 17 to 28 years of age. There are two aged 17, seven aged 18. 26 aged 19. 23 aged 20. 30 aged 21, and 18 aged 22 in the nominations. In view of the high age of many of the nominees, the committee agreed that provincial selectors be asked for more information, particularly about the younger nominees. The teams for the North-South colts' match at Palmersjton North on July 16 are to be chosen on July 8, and the team for Ceylon will be announced after the match at Palmerston North. TEST IN WESTERN SAMOA FIJI WINS FINAL GAME, 26-3 (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) APIA, June 18. The Fiji touring Rugby team made a clean sweep of the test series against Western Samoa at Apia Park today, with a 26-3 win in the third and final test. As with wins in the two earlier tests. Fiji played an open game which brougi them seven tries. A feature of the match was the bit* liant display by the Fijian second five eighth, Aseri Kunawave, who paved th way for most of the tries by fast, pene trating runs. The Samoan side did not display thvigour of its earlier test appearances. Today’s match marked the end of thr Fijian tour, which was the first official visit to the territory by an overseas team. It was a great success for the Apia Rugoy Union financially, and is expected to have a beneficial influence on the sport which was revived in Samoa only last year. INTER-ISLAND MATCH NOMINATIONS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. The New Zealand Rugby Union today decided to close nominations for the interIsland match on July 11. The teams will be chosen during the July 16 week-ena. ELLESMERE SUB-UNION’S COMPETITIONS The following are the results of Ellesmere Rugby Sub-Union’s competition games played at the week-end:— Senior. —A section: Prebbleton 9, Southbridge 6. B section: Lincoln 13, Irwell 6: Lincoln College B 23, Waihora 0. Junior.—A section: Leeston 14, Dunsandel 3: Southbridge 12. Irwell 5. B section: Lincoln College 37, Lincoln 9. Third Grade.—Southbridge 16, Waihora 3; Leeston. a bye. Fourth Grade.—Lincoln 25, Leeston 0; Irwell. a bye. Fifth Grade.—Southbridge 5, Waihora 3; Springston 6 drew with Leeston 6; Preb’ bleton 3 drew with Dunsandel 3. MAORI TEAM TO PLAY CANTERBURY COUNTRY The Canterbury Maori representative team to .play the Canterbury Country fifteen at Rugby Park on Wednesday is: Backs: J. Karauria (Christchurch), N. Wakefield (Christchurch), A. Timothy (8.P.), J. Tapsell (Christchurch), C. Shortland (Christchurch), B. Robinson (H.), T. Robin on (8.P.). Forwards: T. Carroll (N.C.), M. Couch (Christchurch), J. Tainui (8.P.), M. Tua (Christchurch), J. Carroll (N.C.), P. Karaitiana (N.C.). W. Coulston (Christchurch). G. Smith (Christchurch). Emergencies: N. Miller, G. Howse, H. Robinson, F. Robinson. T. Couch; G. Atkins. C. Karaitiana, N. Munro, F. Harrison. W. Heath, and W. Hokianga. All players will assemble at Rugby Park at 1.30 p.m. sharp. Any player not available please ring Mr Hopa, ’Phone 62-689; after 6 p.m.. 70-810. —Advt.