Tradition retained

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 88

Tradition retained

By

JOHN COFFEY

The 1989 Kiwis will tour Britain before France, in spite of a request from the New Zealand Rugby League that the traditional order be reversed. Though “very disappointed about it all,” the N.Z.R.L. executive director, Michael Knowles, said from Auckland yesterday that the tour time span proposed by British officials had been accepted. “We had been striving to carry out our buildup and blooding of players through France before hitting England,” he said. “In the past there has been a temptation to regard the French section as an anti-climax. We were hopeful that with the new management and renewed endeavours of the French Rugby League we could go there fresh for the good of the game and the touring side,” he said. Although Mr Knowles felt that Britain had used “some dominance” over its across-channel neighbour in negotiations, a complicating factor had been the later start to the French season. “They felt they could not be competitive if we went there first, so we have accepted the time frame suggested to us. It closely follows that of previous tours,” said Mr Knowles.

A report “leaked” in England earlier this week listed the British test dates and venues as October 21 at Wigan, November 5 at Headingley and November 18 at Eiland Road.