Keown withdraws from trials

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 30

Keown withdraws from trials

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Al Keown, the Wellington prop, has withdrawn, i for personal reasons, as a reserve from Saturday’s All Black rugby trials at Athletic Park.

“I waited about for the All Black trials to be announced, and when I was not in them I went ahead and made arrangements to attend a function in Taranaki,” Keown said.

He said he was not prepared, for family reasons and because of the arrangements in Taranaki, to change his mind. The secretary of the New

Zealand Rugby Union (Mr) J. M. Jeffs) said in Wellington that Keown’s reasons for withdrawal were perfectly acceptable. Keown’s place in the reserves has been taken by the Hawke’s Bay prop, John O'Connor. Another Wellington player has been added to the All Black reserves this week. As well as Keown, and the flanker, Graham Williams — both added to the reserves

earlier this week — the Marist Hutt Valley centre. Gene Thomsen, has also been included. Thomsen replaces the Manawatu wing, Ken Granger, who will play on the wing in the early trial. Tim Twigden, the Auckland back, had previously been named to replace a fellow Aucklander, Jon I McLachlan, who has been moved to the late trial, replacing the injured Grant Batty. Otago’s Don Colling, chosen as a second five-eighths, has withdrawn from the early trials, and will be replaced by lan Hurst, of North Otago. Hurst’s place at centre will be taken by Twigden. The giant Auckland lock, Peter Whiting, has withdrawn from the main trial, Mr Jeffs confirmed. He has been replaced by Taranaki’s lan Eliason. Another Auckland lock, Andy Haden, is in I the reserves.