No Molloy replacement

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 24

No Molloy replacement

The Canterbury rugby selectors have -decided, not to replace Paul Molloy in the squad that is preparing for the short tour to Australia in April. ' Molloy’, a South Island selection last year in his first season for Canterbury and one of the most promising mid-field backs the province has had in years, has probably been lost for good. Molloy made it known to the Canterbury selectors recently, through his former

Marist club coach, Des Hansen, that he would not be returning to Christchurch. He has been working since the start of the summer in Rotorua and intends staying there.

According to Mr Hansen it seems unlikely that Molloy will play any rugby at all this year/ - ■

The convener of the Canterbury selection panel, Mr Gerald Wilson, said yesterday that Molloy’s loss was a heavy blow..

“But even if we can’t have him I hope that he is not finished with rugby. He is such a talented footballer and it was most unfortunate for us that he had such a bad run with injuries last year."

Mr Wilson said that he and his co-selector, Neil Cornelius, had given some thought to replacing Molloy in their 28-strong squad, but had decided against it.