Alex Wyllie nominated

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 56

Alex Wyllie nominated

Alex Wyllie, the Canterbury rugby coach for the last three years, will be a candidate for the All Black selection panel next year. Mr Wyllie was nominated for the three-man panel at a meeting of the Canterbury union last evening. And, in an unusual step, the nomination carried the rider that it was made “on the basis that he be the coach of the New Zealand team.”

The chairman, Mr M. R. Barnett, said that the union had discussed the matter with Mr Wyllie when it was known that he could be interested in a national position. “He said then that his main interest was in coaching,” said Mr Barnett. The C.R.F.U. also nominated “Tiny” Hill, who it has supported for a number of years and who is a present member of the panel.

“We are fortunate to have two men whose names we can put forward with such confidence,” said Mr Bar-

nett. “They both have proven records and the ability to do the job of New Zealand selectors.” The All Black selection panel is expected to be named on November 2, and that will be 10 days before nominations will close for all Canterbury’s open grade selectors and coaches next year.

The union set the date of November 12 last evening. Meanwhiie, Canterbury has already received a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield next year. It is from Mid-Canterbury. The union decided to set it to one side, “in expectation of more." There is a possibility that Mid-Canterbury might change its name to Ashburton, which it was many years ago. The minutes of a recent N.Z.R.F.U. executive meeting revealed that the union had been told there was nothing against it making the change if it wished.