FIJIANS’ TOUR

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28372, 3 September 1957, Page 14

FIJIANS’ TOUR

Farewell Given By N.Z. Union (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. “When we came to New Zealand we said we had two aims, modest aims they were, to learn and to entertain. I think we fulfilled both these,” said Mr J. W. Acroyd, manager of the Fijian Rugby team, at a farewell given to the tourists by the New Zealand Rugby Union this evening. The Fijians had learnt a lot about Rugby, both on and off the field, they had learnt a lot about New Zealand, and had profited from the tour: and so had the New Zealand Rugby Union, snid Mr Ackroyd. At a moderate estimate, some 200.000 spectators had watched the Fijians. Mr S. D. B. Heather, senior vicepresident of the New Zealand union, said that the Fijians had a nroud record, that it was a pity there was such a long gap between Fijian tours, and that soon there might be a Pacific Rugby conference. Mr Ackroyd said he was unable to comment on a Prtss Association report from Christchurch which quoted Mr W. S. Birdsall, president of the New Zealand union, as saying that until the standard of the Irjian forwards and tackling improved, they would not qualify for a full international against the All Blacks. Thatiquestion, said Mr Ackroyd, would better be discussed by his union in Fiji.