ARMY RUGBY TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 25618, 19 October 1945, Page 6

ARMY RUGBY TEAM

FINAL TRIAL MATCH EXCELLENT MATERIAL AVAILABLE (Rec. 11a.m.) LONDON, October 18. The New Zealand Army Rugby players went through their paces in the eighth and last trial match at Margate before the selectors decided on the final 29 who, captained by the All Black half-back, Major C. *K. Saxton (formerly of Dunedin), will tour Britain this season.

From the tallest, G. B. Nelson (6ft 2in), the second-row forward, to the swarthy half-back, W. S. Edwards (sft and half an inch), all looked in splendid trim, and those in charge consider that they will be a combination at least as powerful as the 1935 All Blacks. The forwards are powerful, heavy, and fast, and include giants such as the 16st J. Maclean and S. W. Woolley. (Maclean, N. J. McPhail, and P. K. Rhind are repatriated prisoners of war from Germany, and All Black trialists.

To-day’s trial, played on a hard, rough ground, allowed none to show his best form, but the three-quarters, J B Smith and F. G. Boggs, the fiveeighth, R L. Dobson, tlie half-badk, Edwards, tlie full-backs, It. W. H Scott and F. IT. Cook, and the forwards, Maclean. Woolley, and S. J. Harvey, impressed as likely to be very good under more favourable conditions. The average age of the team, which is under the managership of Colonel A. H. Andrews, is expected to be about 25. They open the tour on October 27 against Swansea, and are meeting England, Scotland, and Wales, and, it is hoped, France The fixture with Ireland for November 17 has fallen through, fnstead, the New Zealanders are. meeting Leinster and Munster in Dublin on that date.