Lions Officials To Meet Coaches

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 18

Lions Officials To Meet Coaches

The manager (Mr D. J. O’Brien) and the assistant manager (Mr J. D. Robins) of the touring British Lions Rugby team want to attend a meeting of leading Canterbury Rugby coaches while they are in Christchurch.

News of this was met with surprise and pleasure by members of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. “Most unusual,” said Mr C. J. McPhail. "This is making Rugby history.” Never before had he known of officials touring with a Rugby side wanting to attend coaching committee meetings.

A voice: “They might want to learn a few things before the first test.”

The union gave the coaching committee permission to organise a special meeting of coaches in the Caltex theatrette on Monday, June 20. One of the Canterbury selectors, Mr R. H. Duff, might not be able to attend, but the other member of the senior panel (Mr G. T. Nolan) and other prominent Rugby personalities will be present. Mr Robins is particularly interested in coaching in New Zealand. He is a senior ■ lecturer in charge of Rugby football at Loughborough College in Wales. The union agreed that any other members of the Lions touring party would be equally welcome to attend the meeting. Suspended A Belfast under 19 player, J. Greengrass, was stood down for three playing Saturdays. Discussion was in committee. Later, the chairman, Mr A. K. Johnson, said that Greengrass had been ordered from the field in the under 19 match between Belfast and Teachers’ College on Saturday. J. Erickson (Shirley) was regraded from senior to junior.