RUGBY TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 8

RUGBY TOUR

AUSTRALIAN TEAM

LIMIT OF EIGHT MATCHES

In : a -letter received at last evening's meeting of the Management .Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union ■ the secretary of the New.South Wales Ilugby Union advised that his union would be pleased to fall in with ■ the suggestion that the tour of New Zealand this year by an Australian team take place towards the end of the season, and would be glad to'learn what date 'the New Zealand Union. suggested: the team should leave Sydney. The letter added that: in making fixtures iov the season the 14th August had been looked upon as the probable date of the team's departure for, the Dominion; it was approximately the date of departure of the last New South ■Wales team to New Zealand. • . The chairman (Mr. S. S, Dean) said that ■ the ■ date of departure suggested seemed satisfactory. It would mean that), the team would arrive on'lßth August, and would be in the Dominion until the end of September. The letter- had only been' received that day, but it would be necessary to bring down an itinerary- before the annual'meeting of delegates next Wednesday. ;■ • ..'■ .'.>'■ ■ , As to the .number. of matches to be played by the team; Mr. Dean said, he : thought that in view of. the present econo-, mic conditions eight • matches), including one Test, would be1 quite sufficient. ' '■: Mr. E. M'Kenzie suggested ■ mateheß against North island and. South Island representative teams,-.to be followed, by the Test game, against New.: Zealand. Mr. T. A. Fletcher expressed' the. opuiT ion that in 'mapping out tliejtinerary, con--sideration should, be given to ■the Australian team; playing, at-Nelson and on, the West Coast. He suggested that -a cablegram, might be. sent-to_ the New South Wales'Union'with a view! to ascertaining whether1 it would consent to two extra matches.. .: .-■'',, ~ Mr E Wylie agreed ■•with the view takeilliy. the'chairman regarding the number of matches, "We-don't want to overdo it ■■this, yofir." he .said....'-. ; - ■Mr Dean, said that it-would-be difficult for players to obtain/leave ;thi,9/season, and for .that 1 he , suggested one °0u the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. H. 11. Sterling, it was decided to limit the tour to eight matches, including a match against the Maoris and a Test*'came. A. sub-committeer composed of Messrs: Dean, Kitto, and Wylie, was appointed to draw up the itinerary, for Emission to a meeting of the .Management Committee, to be held next luesday evening. , . , ■■.'-■,:■