RUGBY FOOTBALL FRENCH TEAM MAY VISIT DOMINION IN 1948 SEASON

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL FRENCH TEAM MAY VISIT DOMINION IN 1948 SEASON

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 15. Approval of Southland's return home-and-home match against Otago on September. 13 at Dunedin as a Ranfurly Shield challenge match, was given by the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union today. It was decided to advise unions in the Auckland provincial area that jblayers chosen for the North Island v South Island match at Invercargill on October 4 would be flown to the South Island on the Wednesday before the game and back on the Sunday. The chairman (Mr S. S. Dean) said it was hoped to be able to discuss at next week’s meeting the prospects of a visit by a French team next season and to be able to have information available for Messrs F. Sutherland and G. A. Maddison. New Zealand delegates to the Imperial Rugby Conference, who would be leaving for England on September 23. Following, receipt of a.complaint about the conduct of some of the North Auckland team in one of-the hotels under the control of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, it was agreed to take the matter up with the North Auckland Union.' Mr Dean .said he had been asked if it would be possible for the Smith brothers and Paewai to be flown from North Auckland to participate in the New Zealand Maori team’s match against East Coast. He did not think that course advisable. It would not be fair to players chosen for the tour. It was decided to advise that the .suggestion was not acceptable.

No Ranfurly Shield Caine For South Canterbury

(P.A.)' DUNEDIN, September 1. A further plea for consideration of the request for a special challenge match for the Ranfurly Shield was received from South Canterbury by the Otago Rugby Union this evening. It was decided to reaffirm the previous decision that as no date was available it would be impossible io accede to the request. Evc-n if Otago had not accepted Southland’s challenge for September 13, the return game with Southland would still,have to be played at that date, it wtis stated.