Eric Watson. Ray Harper retained for Welsh tour

Press, 9 August 1980, Page 56

Eric Watson. Ray Harper retained for Welsh tour

PA Wellington The All Black manager, Mr Ray Harper, and the coach, Mr Eric Watson, of the recent unsuccessful tour of Australia have been retained for the second 1980 All Black tour to America, Canada, and Wales later this year. The pair retained their positions inspite of strong challenges at the ballot box at Yesterday’s N.Z.R.F.U. council meeting in Wellington. After the in-committee discussion and voting for the positions, the Chairman, Mr Cfes Blazey, said that the incumbents . had each retained their positions on the first ballot. Mr Harper was opposed by Canterbury’s Mr Russell Thomas and Auckland’s Mr Ron Don — both former managers of

All Black sides on' two overseas tours. A former Counties coach, Mr Hiwi Tauroa, and the convener of. the North Island selection panel, Mr Barry Bracewell, stood against Mr Watson. Mr Bracewell, was nominated from the floor. It was decided that a suggestion mooted by Mr Tom Johnson that All Black sides should have two coaches on overseas tours should become the subject of a special N.Z.R.F.U. sub-committee. The sub-committee, comprising Messrs Johnson (chairman), Waka Nathan and Russell Thomas, will look into the wide-ranging area of the selection and preparation of New Zealand teams as well as the back-up coach proposal.

■The manager of the | New Zealand XV to play I Fiji, at Auckland, on Sat- | urday, September 13, will I be Wellington’s Mr Pat I Gill. The side will be I coached by the All Black I selector, Mr Peter Burke. I The physiotherapist for I the All Black tour of 3 Wales will be the same I man who occupied the poI sition on this year’s All I Black tour of Australia I and Fiji, Mr Malcolm j Hood, of South Auckland. I Mr Blazey said that a I special arrangement had I been made with the Fiji | Rugby Union to play the j match against Southland On Tuesday, August 19, instead of Wednesday, August 20. ; : Southland has a challenge for the Ranfurly | Shield against Auckland at ■Eden Park, on Saturday, August 23.