RUGBY Five Instead Of Three To Select N.Z. Teams

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 21

RUGBY Five Instead Of Three To Select N.Z. Teams

(New Zealand Prest Association)

WELLINGTON, November 29. A new system of electing the national selectors will come into force next year, the New Zealand Rugby Union council decided today. From the six island selectors (three from each island) five national selectors, instead of the present three, will be appointed. Mr T. H. Pearce (Auckland) said separate island selectors were redundant. He had been a North Island selector himself, and it had been a waste of time and money.

The island selector disappeared after only one match, the interisland encounter.

For years, ‘he had heard complaints at the council table and annual meeting about the lack of coverage of various unions. “I deplore the division of New Zealand into North and South Islands. It has crept into Rugby, and the interisland match, vzhich is usually a good match, seems to be with us to stay.

“But I feel that as national teams are picked over New Zealand as a whole, so the selectors should be. I would like to see three from the north and two from the south, the five to pick both island teams as well as the national team.” A number of councillors supported Mr Pearce’s view, and Mr D. K. Ross (North Island) urged the council “to give it a trial.” The chairman (Mr T. C. Morrison) sadd the N.Z.U. had already elected two South Island selectors—Messrs V. L. George and D. H. Hamilton. If it were now decided to have only two from the south, the third man, Mr N. J. McPhail, who was convener of the national panel as well as being a South Island selector,

and is at present the assistant manager of the All Blacks in Britain, would be chopped out. He suggested that, for Hits year only, there should be six national selectors, three from each island, so that Mr McPhail could be given a chance at the ballot. Mr Pearce said it would then be fairer to rescind- the appointments made and let all go to a new ballot. Mt Morrison: But I feel that would be terribly wrong. Mr C. A. Blazey: I wouldn’t be a party to cancelling out those who have been elected. Mr Pearoe: I have to face a ballot to sit on the council. I cannot see it as a slight to anybody to give them the opportunity of going to a ballot for the election of national selectors. Eventually it was decided, Mr Pearce agreeing, that for 1964 only there be three selectors from each island, and, from those six, a national panel of five be appointed. Mr M. S. Ingpen (Manawatu) proposed that no change be made, but there were only three votes in favour of his amendment.