Old Boys “Finding Own Expenses”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 15

Old Boys “Finding Own Expenses”

Mr G. A. Knight, a committee member of the Christchurch High School Old Boys’ Club which has applied for permission to make a tour of Australia, yesterday put the contrary view of the clubs to Mr Morrison’s statement. He said that the Old Boys’ club had applied for two teams to visit Australia in late August—a mixed senior and senior reserve side and an under-20 side.

“In our case the club is not sponsoring the tour financiailOy but the players are finding their own expenses. So it is not a drain on the (Hub’s finances at all. "Admiittedly the dub could do with the money being raised flor the tour but I am certain that the players will work harder to raise money for their own Rugby holiday

than they would to raise money for the dub,” said Mr Knigihit.

“The tour also would not affect dub Rugby. By late August dub Rugby in Canterbury has finished. Also representative Rugby would hardily be affected. The under 20 and senior reserve representative teams only play one or two matches in August or September, and are unlikely to be affected by the Old Boys’ dub touring. It is unlikely, too, that a Canterbury representative would refuse to play for Canterbury so he could go on a social tour of Australia.”

Mr Knight said that private tours such as has dub’s probably helped Rugby. It kept players attached to the dub and also built up a sense of dub spirit as dub members worked together to make the tour possible. Mr Knight added that these were only his personal opinions on the matter tor the dub has not yet discussed the effects of the New Zealand Union’s attitude to its application.