Taranaki wants change to rugby itinerary

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 26

Taranaki wants change to rugby itinerary

PA • New Plymouth The Taranaki rugby Union will make an official protest over Taranaki being omitted from the itinerary of the British Lions’ tour to New Zealand next season.

A union executive meeting in Stratford on Wednesday night, decided to write to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, demanding that the itinerary be changed to include a match against Taranaki at Rugby Park, New Plymouth. Taranaki is one province to miss a match as a result of a shortened itinerary for the Lions. Previous tours have involved more than 20 matches. Next year’s tour will be of 18 games, and contests against Taranaki, Otago, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Universities are among those- missing.

The T.R.U. secretary, Mr Bill Coleman, of New Plymouth, said yesterday that the meeting felt the games had been poorly apportioned regarding spectator population and ground capacities.

“The Lions will be playing both Wanganui and Manawatu. Grounds at Palmerston North and Wanganui, especially Wanganui, have limited crowd capacities, while Rugby Park in New Plymouth has virtually an unlimited capacity,” he said.

"The management committee is very upset. We want the itinerary to be changed so Taranaki gets a game."

Mr Coleman said that such a move would not establish any precedent: “After all, the venue was altered for last year’s game between Counties ana the Springboks,” he said.