RUGBY TOURISTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 169, 13 April 1935, Page 22

RUGBY TOURISTS

New Zealand Selectors INCREASE NOT DESIRABLE The suggestion by the Canterbury Rugby Union that the number of selectors 'to choose the New Zealand team to tour Great Britain in the coining season should be increased from four to six, has not met with support. „ ... . The team which toured Great Britan in 1924 was chosen by seven selectors, who did their work so weii that the Dominion team went through the tour without a defeat. Last year, the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, with the tour to Britain this year in view, appointed four selectors, two from each island, to hold office for two years. Canterbury, in advocating that two more selectors, one for each island, should be appointed, stressed the importance of the tour, and stated that it considered the work of selecting the New Zealand side would be more thoroughly performed by six selectors. It was the southern union’s contention that one more selector from each island should be chosen. The Auckland Rugby Union, at its meeting on Wednesday night, could not agree with the Canterbury suggestion. The chairman, Mr. A. St. C. Belcher, said that Canterbury’s proposal might possibly meet with support, but as far as he himself was concerned he was of the opinion that the work at present performed by four selectors could just as adequately, if not more thoroughly, be performed by one selector. Other members deprecated any suggestion that the number should be increased. The management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at its meeting on Wednesday evening, informed Canterbury that no reason could be seen for increasing the size of the selection committee. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE . Mr. Prendeville Supported The chairman of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr. A. St. C. Belcher, paid a tribute to Mr. J. Prendeville, chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby. Union. He referred to the services which had been rendered to the game over >i long period of years by Mr. Prendeville, and maintained that the latter had full qualifications for the position of one of the New Zealand delegates at the Imperial Rugby conference to be held in London this year. On his motion it was decided to make Mr. Prendeville Auckland’s second nominee for the position of delegate.