Busy season lies ahead for rugby

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 4

Busy season lies ahead for rugby

Rugby in Canterbury faces probably its busiest season ever, delegates to the annual meeting of the Canterbury union were told last evening. The president, Les Russell, said that he was in no doubt that never before had so much work been done between seasons as had been the case in recent months. "First we have the Freshup national sevens at Rugby Park the week-end after next and a lot of work has gone into making them a success. “Then, in less than a month, we have the South Pacific championship, with Canterbury playing the first of its two home games on April 11. "And then, in May, we have the World Cup, which is ;oing to be a huge operation. Despite suggestions to the contrary I can assure you that an enormous amount of time is being spent in getting everything ready for the World Cup,” said Mr Russell. He said that there was going to be a great deal of strain on Canterbury’s resources during one 10-day period of the Cup. "In this period we will have six international teams in Christchurch, some staying for more than a week.”

Later in the meeting the subject of World Cup ticket prices was brought up, and Mr RUssell said that despite jublicity to the contrary most ickets would be in the price range of the average rugby follower.

Russell Thomas, of the N.Z.R.F.U., said that at present more than 100,000 applications for tickets from overseas were being processed and once this had been done sales in New Zealand would begin. “I don’t believe that anyone not directly involved knows what a huge, and complex, task the ticketing for an event such as this is,” he said.

As well as a busy year of representative rugby, Mr Russell said also that club rugby in Christchurch should hold a

lot more interest this year with the Introduction of a new senior format. "It is a format which will keep interest high rght untl the finish.” With Christchurch now having two lighted grounds — Rugby Park having been floodlit since last winter — it is intended to play a round of senior B as well as senior matches at night in April and May. The senior B games will be curtain-raisers. For the first time in memory, no elections were required to fill any office'— something which Mr Russsli described as not necessarily being a good thing. Vic Thomas, an executive member for 10 years, did not seek re-election and his place was taken by Don Liken, who, like Mr Thomas, comes from the Linwood club. Mr Thomas said he had had 10 wonderful years on the union. “It was a time of great change — in the game, in administration, in our finances, and in property development. I was thrilled to be a part of it,” he said. Officers elected were:President, Mr L. J. Russell; vice-president, Messrs M. R. Inglis, M. C. Sullivan, N. G. Gow; treasurer, Mr I. F. Allott; committee, Messrs' L. W. McFadden, M. W. Cooper, G. P. Wilson, D. L. Frampton, p. E. Robinson, D. J. Liken, A. ■H. Erdman, N. P. Blanchfleld, A. T. C. Smith, C. D. Burleigh (J. A. B.), M. P. Linroos (secondary schools), D. L. Ching (primary schools), T. •F. Doocey (referees* association). ;