Country rugby team for Aust.

Press, 10 January 1981, Page 48

Country rugby team for Aust.

Canterbury rugby players are going to mount something of a mini-invasion of Australia early next winter. The day after the provincial A side lelurns from its three-match visit (it has games in Sydney, Surfers Paradise and Brisbane) on April 27, a 28-strong Country party will leave on a tour that will comprise six games. The Country tour has been in. the planning stages for many months and details have just been finalised. Five of the games are in

Queensland and one in New South Wales.

The itinerary is.— v. Rockhampton at Rockhampton on April 30, v. Townsville at Townsville on May 2, v. Mt Isa at Mt Isa on May 4, v. Darling Downs at Toowoomba on May 7, v. Queensland Country at Brisbane on May 10 and v. New South Wales Country, eastern district, at a venue yet to be decided on May 13. Of the party of 28, 24 will be players. This squad will not be named until March, but it will include four of

last season’s most promising colts. The team manager will be Mr Russell Croft, of Amberley, the team manager Mr Murray Cooper, of Leeston, and the trip will mark the start of Alex Wyllie’s reign as Country coach. The fourth official will be the leading North Canterbury referee, Mr Peter Williams. Queensland Country brough a referee with it last year and it is hoped that like him Mr Williams will be invited to control games in the centres visited. Plans are also in train for

a supporters’ party to accompany the team. The secretary of the Canterbury Sub-unions’ association, Mr Malcolm Millar, said yesterday that the tour had been made possible by the excellent support shown by the country clubs. The main fund-raising effort had been a raffle and with this a sell-out, Mr Millar said that more than enough money had been raised to cover the costs. The only expense still to be met is the outfitting of the party.