LEAGUE Kiwis To Tour Australia Instead Of English Side

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 23

LEAGUE Kiwis To Tour Australia Instead Of English Side

(NJE. Pros* Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY. Nov. 15. The New Zealand Rugby League has accepted an invitation to send the Kiwi* on a tour ot Australia next season, the chairman of the Australian Rugby League board of control. Mir Bill Buckley, announced today. The Kiwis’ visit will replace a scheduled tour by an English Rugby League side, which has been cancelled as a result of a coßapee -in negotiations on proflt-aharing Mr Buckley said the New Zealand team's tour w ould be on a basis of a 50-50 division of the gross takings—the same arrangement as had operated between Australia and New Zealand for many years. The breakdown in negotiations between England and Australia occurred when the English authorities refused to agree to a similar basis of sharing the proceeds from next year'* tour. Mr Buckley defended his board’s action in negotiating with New Zealand while

England was •'dallying’’ over a decision on its tour. "We pointed out to England several times that it was a matter of urgency so that wa could clear next season's programme,” he said. "England moved more smartly with its final reply, which was lodged by cable in Leeds less than three hours after our cable was sent from Sydney. I would like to stress that we have no hard feelings towards England over its decision.” he said. Announcing the New Zea. land move today, the secretary of the English Rugby League. Mr W. Fallowfield, said in Leeda, Yorkshire: "It is rather unfortunate. I have received a cable from New Zealand saying that they have now accepted an invitation to tour Australia in 1962. “I know that New Zealand had, rather surprisingly, agreed to do so while negotia- ’ tions by us with Australia were in progress, thereby considerably strengthening Aus- ■ tralia's hand.”