Dick Littlejohn made All Blacks manager

Press, 14 April 1984, Page 76

Dick Littlejohn made All Blacks manager

PA Wellington The manager of the All Blacks for 1984 is Dick Littlejohn, the New Zealand Football Union council decided yesterday. Mr Littlejohn, aged 53, a Whakatane-based company director, will manage the All Bicks for the home series against France and on the tours to Australia and Fiji. The assistant manager-coach will be Bryce Rope. A Wellington physiotherapist, Peter Stokes, will accompany the All Blacks in all three series of matches.

Mr Littlejohn, who has previously managed North Island and All Black trial teams, said he was excited at the prospect in store for the national team this year. Peter Wild, who was appointed manager of the North Island team, was defeated for the All Blacks’ management position and for the liaison officer with the French team.

The latter post went to Ivan Vodanovich. Waikato and Bay of Plenty coaches, George Simpkin and Graeme Crossman, were appointed coaches of the All Blacks trail team for the match at Hamilton on May 23. The pair were chosen for their experience more than geographical or financial considerations. Colin Meads and Alistair Tait will again coach the North and South Island teams respectively. Otago’s John Dowling assumes the chairmanship of the Junior Advisory Board, a position previously held by Paul Mitchell, who was unseated at Thursday’s annual meeting. Appointments made at yesterday’s meeting were:—

New Zealand v France: Manager, R. J. Littlejohn; coach, D. B. Rope; physiotherapist, P. G. Stokes.

New Zealand to Australia and Fiji: Manager, Littlejohn;

assistant manager, Rope; physiotherapist, Stokes. France to New Zealand: Liaison officer, I. M. H. Vodanovich; baggageman-mas-seur, T V. O’Connor. New Zealand Juniors internal tour: Manager, K. Pearson; assistant manager, S. F. Hill. New Zealand Colts internal tour and match in Australia:' Manager, R. A. Guy; assistant manager, B. J. Lochore. North Island v South Island: North Island: manager, J. P. Wild; coach, C. E. Meads. South Island manager, R. W. Thomas; coach, A. J. Tait. New Zealand trial; Managers, R. C. Stuart, Wild; coaches, G. D. Simpkin, G. M Crossman. New Zealand Colts trial' Managers, T. B. Cunningham. Stuart; coaches, Meads, Tait. New Zealand Maoris v Hawke’s Bay: Manager, K Pearson; coach. M. Blackburn. New Zealand Under 17 v Australia Under 17: Manager H. J. McGowan; coach, R. W Caulton.