NO PRE-PLANNING FOR SPRINGBOKS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 19

NO PRE-PLANNING FOR SPRINGBOKS

Although Canterbury’s match against South Africa next year is on July 27, relatively early in the Rugby season, the Canterbury 7 Union is not in favour of any special preparations being made for the match.

At a meeting of the management committee last evening the chairman (Mr J. O. Hattersley) said it had been suggested to him that the selectors should be appointed at the end of this season rather than at the beginning of next season so that they could supervise training during the summer and early next season.

Mr R. W. Thomas said that it was an interesting suggestion and perhaps clubs could be asked their opinion.

Mr H. C. Blazey said that the selectors usually were appointed in April, which should be early enough. Mr Hattersley: “We often have been criticised for our representative programme Interfering with club Rugby. If selectors were asking clubs to supply players early in the season for representative training then the clubs might have a justifiable complaint—Springboks or not.” Programme Reorganised After further discussion, mostly in favour of not appointing selectors this season, it was decided that next year the Canterbury selectors should be appointed as soon as possible after the annual meeting of the union. Mr Hattersley said that as well as considering the ap-

pointment of selectors it also had to consider the reorganisation of Canterbury’s representative programme because two Springbok games would be held in Christchurch in July.

For example, the Canter-bury-South Africa game was about the same time the Town-Country match usually was played. Mr J. Storey suggested that next year the Town-Country match should be held on the Monday of the Queen’s Birthday week-end. “This would mean a change in the usual two matches against Buller and West Coast. But we could play West Coast on Saturday and return to Christchurch on Monday to play against Country.” Mr Thomas asked if Country players would be ready for the match then. Mr C. H. McPhail: “If it means a chance of gaining selection against the Springboks I am sure they will be.” It was decided to write to the Canterbury sub-unions asking if they approved the match being played on Queen’s Birthday next year.