Rugby EASY WINS IN U.S.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 3

Rugby EASY WINS IN U.S.

Universities’ Team

<NZ. Press Assn.—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, March 7. The touring N.Z. Universities Rugby team has been defeating all its opponents on the U.S. West Coast so far with ridiculous ease. United Press International reported. In the team's first three games it disposed of the University of California (in Los Angeles), 27-3, San Diego State, 52-5, and the Los Angeles All-Stars. 41-3. “The All-Stars furnished us with the toughest competition,” said the team captain, K. Tremain. “But the American Rugby teams just don’t have enough variety in their games.

“The best Rugby player we have seen so far is a fullback at San Diego State, C. Morris. He could, with a little coaching, make our star New Zealand teams.” The New Zealanders said they could not understand why Rugby was not as popular in North America as gridiron football. United Press International recalled that some Rugby diehards in Northern California had claimed that the sport was “catching on.” but then they had been saying that for years.

The team’s manager, Mr B. Rope, pointed out that American sports such as softball and basketball had been drawing more and more players in New Zealand. The small crowds that watched Rugby games along the United States West Coast must have shocked the New Zealanders, United Press International said. So far the biggest crowd they had played before was 3000. If they were lucky they might get 6000 for a match with the University of California (in San Francisco) on March 10.