JONES OUT OF TOUR

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29271, 1 August 1960, Page 12

JONES OUT OF TOUR

O’Sullivan Coming Home (From GRAEME JENKINS, N.Z.PA Staff Correspondent) JOHANNESBURG, July 30. The Taranaki three-quarters, T. P. O’Sullivan, will return to New Zealand with his left forearm in plaster. This was decided by a Johannesburg specialist on Friday afternoon several hours after O’Sullivan had been provisionally selected to play for the All Blacks against Eastern Transvaal.

Another decision by the specialist means the end of the tour, and possibly the end of his international career, for the North Aucklander, P. F. H. Jones, who has a badly torn groin muscle. O’Sullivan, who cracked the scaephoid bone of his left hand in the match against Rhodesia on July 2, had the plaster removed from his arm earlier this week and was passed by two doctors as fit to play—if he was needed and if he felt quite happy about playing himself. A specialist’s opinion was sought, however, and acting on his advice O’Sullivan’s arm goes back into plaster today and will stay there for possibly two months.

One of the keenest Rugby players in the team, O’Sullivan did everything possible to get back on the playing field, but the specialist said that had he aggravated the injury a subsequent operation could be necessary, with the result that the wrist could be weakened. For Jones the news that he is able to play no more on the tour had its tragic moments as he fully intended retiring from

international Rugby at the end of it, and wished to end his career for New Zealand on a high note. At the start of the tour he played probably the best Rugby of a career which started when he was selected for R. C. Stuart’s 1953-54 touring team of the British Isles. He played two tests on that tour and had appeared in six subsequent internationals, including the first against South Africa on the present tour. He was top forward until tearing a muscle in the match against the Junior Springboks. A second forward. H. C. Burry, could be in the same boat as O’Sullivan and Jones, suffering from a similar muscle injury as the latter. A doctor himself. Burry is to consult a specialist on Monday.