Aust. Hockey Team To Tour N.Z. Next Year

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31238, 9 December 1966, Page 18

Aust. Hockey Team To Tour N.Z. Next Year

Australia has accepted an invitation to tour the Dominion next year, a meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association’s management committee was told last evening.

The proposed duration of the tour is from the last Saturday in July until the last Saturday in August. The chairman (Mr R. S. Jenkins) said: “It is very pleasing that this inters change of visits is being maintained. “We should be very conscious that New Zealand is on the fringe of the international hockey world and that with our limited resources—no matter how much we want to look further afield—Australia is the country with which we will continue to have the greatest amount of contact. Bronze Medallist “As the Olympic bronze medallist, Australia stands very high in the hockey world. We went close last year to squaring the test series in Australia. “Next year, with the nucleus of that young team, and on our home territory,

we can expect to break even or do even better." Mr Jenkins said that the tour, being just prior to the New Zealand Challenge Shield tournament, “could not have come at a better time.” The committee agreed with Dr. L. M. Berry’s suggestion that the Australian association be advised that as long as the policy of inter-change of visits between the two countries excluded Olympic Games year, the New Zealand association considered that an overseas tour prior to the 1972 Games was valuable in building a team. Accordingly, the association will advise that it desires a visit to Australia in 1971 and suggest that the matter be discussed further with the manager of the 1967 Australian team when it is in the Dominion. The Afghan Sports Club will be advised that Australia is prepared to consider accepting a tour by its Bahawalpur Wanderers team in 1967, but that New Zealand,

because of its international commitments next year, “could not see its way clear to accepting the tour.” The Afghan club will be informed, however, that consideration would be given to having the tour in New Zealand in 1968.

The association will inquire from the English Hockey Association whether it intends inviting a New Zealand team to the London international tournament in October next year. It will also inquire about the cost of sending a team. The meeting discussed briefly whether a New Zealand team should be sent if an invitation were received and there was general agreement to Mr S. B. Browne’s suggestion that the matter be discussed at the annual meeting of the N.Z.H.A.

‘There is no need to rush into it," Mr Browne said. “We can estimate what the cost would be. We should place the matter on the agenda and allow every affiliated association the chance to give it full consideration.” It was also decided to inquire of the South African and Kenyan hockey associations the possibility of a tour by a New Zealand team.