DUNN OUT OF TOUR; NOSE BROKEN

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 15

DUNN OUT OF TOUR; NOSE BROKEN

A friendly game between members of the New Zealand under-23 Rugby League team and some players from the Auckland University club yesterday cost the Canterbury centre, S. Dunn (Pa'panui), a trip to Australia with the under-23 team. Dunn broke his nose after colliding with another Canterbury player, W. P. Noonan (Linwood), and was withdrawn after a medical examination. The Hornby three-quarter, B.i Jager, was announced as Dunn's replacement by the convener of the New Zealand selection panel (Mr D. L. Blanchard) last evening. Although he has been in fine form for Hornby this season, Jager was a surprise choice because of his failure to make the final under-23 trials. Although chosen as a centre, Mr

Blanchard said that Jager may also play on the wing in Australia, a position that he regularly occupied until this season. Mr Blanchard said that the touring team’s coach (Mr M. W. Church, of Wellington) was hopeful that Dunn could tour with the aid of a noseguard because of his fine form ini training sessions. How-i ever, a doctor ruled Dunn

out because of the severeness of the break.

An earlier withdrawal was the Otago wing, T. Toleafoa, who was not permitted to travel to Australia by the Western Samoa Education Department He is studying on a Government bursary at Otago University.

Toleafoa was replaced by the Auckland half-back, S. Dowsett, with R. McGuinn (Auckland) moving from full-back to his more accustomed wing position. R. Muru (Auckland), at 18 the youngest member of the team, who was a doubtful starter for the tour because he could not get a release from his job as an apprenticed mechanic until a replacement was found, can now go. ' His firm has been offered ' an acceptable replacement.