Schoolboy League “MUCH WORK TO BE DONE”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31653, 13 April 1968, Page 14

Schoolboy League “MUCH WORK TO BE DONE”

Although schoolboy Rugby league had progressed tremendously since 1947, there was still much work to be done, the president of the New Zealand Schoolboy Council (Mr L. A. Stuart) said at the annual meeting last evening.

“I would like to see the schools playing mid-week Rugby league with the clubs fostering the boys’ football on Saturdays, as is done in Australia.

“This will be possible when we get schoolmasters who are prepared to attend Rugby league coaching schools. Instead of having 15,000 boys playing we could then have as many as any other code. There is a place for all sports in schools.” Mr Stuart said that four provinces—West Coast, Canterbury, Taranaki and Auckland—had attended the original tournament in 1947. The code had expanded in spite of set-backs when provinces, entered tournaments without; consolidating the game ini their own areas first. A member of the New Zealand senior council, Mr T. J. Wellsmore, said that Rugby; league had been included on the curricula of the training colleges and that Auckland University had entered three teams this season.

“Schools play union, hockey and soccer and it is difficult to expect a master to take on another code at the weekends,” Mr Wellsmore said. President Re-elected Mr Stuart was re-elected unopposed as president for the seventh year in succession.

Mr N. L. Isle was elected secretary to succeed Mr W. L. Prendergast, who retired after holding the position since 1961. Other officers elected were: patron, Mr L. R. Huston: vice-

patron, Mr T. E. Nash (Waikato); senior vice-president. Mr M. R Clinton: treasurer, Mr D. Mur doch: resident delegates. Messrs G. N. Nuttall (Auckland), R. Franklin (Northland), W. Berry (Waikato), L. R. Blackler (Bay of Plenty), J. Anderson (Taranaki). E. Leeson (Wellington), P. J. Taylor (West Coast). P. Yaxley (Otago), and R. Woods (Canterbury).