Injured Lions centre having fitness test

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 32

Injured Lions centre having fitness test

(N.Z.P'A, Staff Correspondent) LONDON. The England Rugby centre, C. I. Wardlow, will have a medical examination next week to determine his fitness to tour New Zealand and Australia with the British Lions.

Wardlow broke his > jaw three weeks ago when playing for the ■ North of England < against Coventry, nd is not due to have the wiring removed until April 28, just two days before the Lions report for training. The Lions manager (Dr D. Smith) has told Wardlow he must see a specialist before then and prove himself fit to tour. “It will be awful if I can’t go, but there is no point in fooling the management if I am not fit,” Wardlow said. DISPENSATION GIVEN The Lions are due to leave for Australia on May 7, and will be one three-quarters short in any case because of the dispensation given to T. G. R. Davies to miss four games while sitting examinations at Cambridge University. If Wardlow is unfit to tour, his replacement will probably be the Scottish centre, C. Rea, one of six players

named as reserves to train with the Lions. However, because of his brilliant form for England at centre against the Overseas XV last Saturday, the selectors may prefer to move D. J. Duckham, chosen as a wing, to centre, and replace Wardlow with a wing. JANION POSSIBILITY

In this case, the probable choice would be J. Janion, of England, who had two fine games against the Overseas XV.

Meanwhile, the Lions coach (Mr C. James) has sent all members of the team a personal daily fitness schedule, and according to the tour captain, S. -J. Dawes, the schedule “is really killing us.” Located in a London park at 9 a.m. with fellow Lon-don-resident Welsh Lions J. P. R. Williams and J. W.

Leegue.—Fourth round Sydney Rugby league premier results were: Balmain 10, Eastern Suburbs 7; South Sydney 40, Western Suburbs 16; Newtown 10, Cronulla-Sutherland 9; Penrith 24, Parramatta 12; Manly-Warrin-gah 13, St George 9; North Sydney 17, Canterbury-Bankstown 10. South Sydney and Manly-War-ringah are the only unbeaten teams.

C. Taylor, Dawes said: “The schedule is designed for men who are fully match fit at international standard. For those of us who haven’t played for a week or two, it is pretty tough. But I am sure we will have cause to be grateful for Carwyn sending them out to us.”