New selectors for league

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 14

New selectors for league

Two men who recently retired at the conclusion of long club and representative Rugby league playing careers, Messrs J. A. Flanagan and J. G. Clarke, last evening were appointed as Cantercury selectors for next season. Mr Flanagan will also coach the provincial team.

They were chosen at a meeting of the Canterbury board of control to replace the 1973 panel, Messrs H. J. Walker and A. O’Donnell.

Mr Walker was not available for re-election, but Mr O’Donnell —ln company with Messrs R. H.

Turton and B. R. P. Curtain—was one of the unsuccessful nominees.

Mr Flanagan, a Canterbury forward from 1959 until 1970, appeared in one national trial. He has had considerable success as a coach over the last few seasons, in player-coach and nonplaying capacities with Linwood, and with Canterbury B and the Canterbury XIII last year. Mr Clarke’s first-class career extended for nine seasons from 1963, and he earned Kiwi honours as an inside back against Britain in 1966, and at the 1968 World Cup tournament. He was the player-coach ofPapanui teams which won two major champion- . ships. It seems likely that the first assignment given the FlanaganClarke partnership will coincide with the first floodlit representative match at the Show Grounds. An offer will be made to Wellington to send its A side to Christchurch for a game on Wednesday. March 27. Six days earlier it is proposed to hold a match that will act as a trial both for the players and the floodlight conditions. The board of . control also agreed to transfer its match against New South Wales Country to Saturday, May 4. or the evening of May 3, so that provision can be made for the tourists to travel to Grevmouth for a game on the Sunday of that ■ 'ek-end.