Japan rugby tour for maroons

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 68

Japan rugby tour for maroons

By

JOHN BROOKS

University of Canterbury rugby players will steal a march on other New Zealand footballers by playing a World Cup competitor — Japan —’ next month.

Thee game will take place in the Japanese city of Takasaki, and it will represent the climax of a seven-match tour of Japan being undertaken by the enterprising University cl.ub. The maroon-jerseyed travellers will leave Christchurch on Friday after some hectic fund-raising to meet tour costs. Dale Atkins, the strapping Canterbury No. 8, will be able to join the expedition through funds from a different quarter. He seemed fated to be grounded in Italy — where he is playing club rugby — but the Marine Tavern in Sumner came to his aid with the cost of a Rome-Tokyo air ticket, which will enable him to take part in the last two games, against Japan A and B. Warwick Taylor, the club’s All Black mid-fielder, will also line up for the important matches at the end. The tour is rated so highly by Evan Peterson, the club’s high-scoring wing,

that he will forgo the chance to defend his New Zealand triple jump title at the national track and field meeting in Wellington next month. Because of his selection for the Barbarians, John Buchan, the Canterbury hooker, will miss the tour. But University will still make a bold showing with such stalwarts as Pat Benson, Mark Meates, Tavita Sio, John McCaw, Chris O’Reilly, Merv Aoake, Ekeroma Luaiufi and Dallas Seymour in the pack, with Gary Barkle calling the shots from half-back.

Two strong advocates of sporting links with Japan, Ivan Bolton and Laurie O’Reilly, will accompany the side as manager and coach, respectively. The tour will extend from Kyushu up to Tokyo, and will include a game against Canterbury’s old rival, Doshisha University, as well as one with the Osaka Physical Education College. It is here that “Demi” Sakata, the former Japanese left wing who once played for Canterbury, is now coach. Most of the matches, including the big one against Japan A, will be refereed by either Ken McCartney, a Scotsman, or Les Peard, a Welshman.