Sloane unavailable

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 42

Sloane unavailable

PA Wellington The All Black hooker and North Auckland rugby captain, Peter Sloane, is unavailable for the New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Fiji for business reasons. ; Named as one of the 1980 New Zealand Rugby Almanack’s five players of the year recently, Sloane advised the N.Z.R.F.U. secretary, Mr Barry’ Usmar, of his unavailability for the 16-match tour yesterday. Sloane’s withdrawal means there is now an opportunity for a new All Black rake to gain New Zealand selection. Earlier, New Zealand's No. 1 hooker of recent years, Andy Dalton (Counties), also

declared himself unavailable for business reasons. Canterbury’s John Black, who hooked for New Zealand against Australia in the ill-fated, 6-12 loss, at the I Sydney Cricket Ground last) year could be named' as the! No. 1 hooker for the tour. Mr Usmar said that the North Aucklander’s hooking position in the Probables trial team at Hamilton, on May 3, would now be . occupied by Ken Bloxham, of Otago. The Manawatu half-back, Mark Donaldson, will captain the Probables team in place of Sloane, and Bay of Plenty’s promising young hooker, Hika Reid, has been called into the reserves.