John Buchan new Canty captain

Press, 8 April 1987, Page 64

John Buchan new Canty captain

The successor to Don Hayes as the Canterbury rugby captain is- the University hooker, John Buchan.

Buchan, aged 25, and a lawyer by profession, was the choice of the sefectorcoach, Doug Bruce, and his coaching partner, Andy Holland. Last evening the appointment was confirmed by the Canterbury Rugby Union.

Born and raised in Auckland, Buchan spent three years in Wellington as a policeman before he moved to Christchurch in 1982.

He was a prop in the University B team in 1982 and the following year he moved up to the A side. However, it was not until he switched to hooker in 1985 that his rugby career took off.

He was a surprise selection in Alex Wyllie’s squad that year and finished up having 15 games for Canterbury. There were another 15 last year, and by the end of the winter Buchan was ru-

moured to be not far away from All Black selection. He did make the New Zealand Emerging Players team, and was rated one of the few successes in that side’s disappointing internal tour. He has already been to the fore this year with a trip to Britain with the Auckland Barbarians plus an ordering off in the tourists’ game against Cornwall. Buchan said last evening that he counted it a great honour to be named as Canterbury captain, and it was one which “came completely out of the blue.”

“Anyone would be proud to lead a team like Canterbury, and I just hope we can carry on getting the results we have been for the last few years. I am sure everyone will be trying, starting with Saturday’s game against New South Wales,” he said. The Canterbury team for Saturday’s game will

be named after training tonight. • The Canterbury Rugby Union is to write to the radio station, 3ZB, asking for an explanation of a statement by one of its sports announcers yesterday morning. The statement alleged that country players were; boycotting Saturday’s AGC South Pacific match at Lancaster Park because no passes were being given to country footballers.

Murray Cooper, a coun : try member on the executive, said he had made extensive inquiries yesterday and he could assure the union that the allegation was completely unfounded.

“It is almost too silly to comment on. Both in North Canterbury and Ellesmere it is the wish of the clubs tnat wherever possible their games be on a Saturday, and this is why they are playing on Saturday,” said Mr Cooper.