Kiwi hooker to play for Marist

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 12

Kiwi hooker to play for Marist

By

JOHN COFFEY

Wayne

Wallace, a New Zealand rugby league representative on tours to Britain, France, Australia and Papua New Guinea in the last two years, has transferred from the Hornby club and will play for Marist-Western Suburbs this season.

He will make his debut in the Marist pack against Linwood when the preliminary round of the Radio Avon preseason tournament is held at the Aldington Show Grounds tomorrow.

Although a first-class footballer as a loose forward or hooker since his Canterbury debut in 1978, Wallace is still only 27 years of age. He has made 34 appearances for Canterbury and another 25 for South Island. Wallace took over from the experienced Howie Tamatl as the New Zealand test hooker in Britain in 1985, but was in turn displaced by Barry Harvey In Australia last year. However, an injury to Harvey—who also transferred recently, from Taranaki to the Randwick club in Wellington —enabled Wallace to regain the position against Papua New Guinea. Wallace has played in six tests and 12 other games for the Kiwis. The winner of the Linwood-

Marist match is to meet Papanui in the next round one week later. Papanui also has a new recruit whose efforts will be watched with particular interest. Peter McLaren, a former Canterbury rugby union representative forward, signed for Papanui after participating in pre-season trials; Another -former provincial rugby union player has also been on trial with Papanui.