Alex Wyllie new selector

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 36

Alex Wyllie new selector

Alex Wyllie will return to the forefront of Canterbury Country rugby next season but not as a player. The former All Black and longserving captain of Canterbury was elected Country’s senior selector at an executive meeting of the Canterbury Sub-Unions yesterday. Mr Wyllie, who retired from first-class rugby at the end of last season, was nominated by the Leeston club through the Ellesmere Combined Sub-Union. He was opposed by Tom McLay (nominated by the North Canterbury Sub-Union), who has just finished his first

season with the team. Discussion was taken in committee and a secret ballot was held. There must be sympathy • for Mr McLay, Under his guidance, Country won four • of its seven games and, for • most of the season, he was without key players who i were required for the > Canterbury A team. A spate • of injuries compounded his > problems. ■ Mr Russell Croft was api pointed team manager for next season and Mr Murray i Cooper was appointed tour > manager of Country’s first ; tour of Australia.

The proposed itinerary for next season’s Australian tour includes two matches in Victoria and five matches in Queensland. However, confirmation of the matches in Victoria has yet to be received.

Should all matches be confirmed, the team will leave on April 16 and return on May 4. Only two competition rounds in the SubUnions’ programme would be missed. If the Victoria’ matches are cancelled, the team will leave for Queensland after Easter.