BRITISH RUGBY TEAM’S TOUR IN 1950 SAME AS IN 1930

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22889, 8 March 1949, Page 3

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM’S TOUR IN 1950 SAME AS IN 1930

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 8. The British Rugby team to visit New Zealand and Australia in 1050 is to be asked to carry out the same programme as in 1930, namely, tour New Zealand first and play 21 matches here, including four tests.

The executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union yesterday decided to make this request following the receipt of a letter from the four British Rugby Unions’ tour committee. The letter stated that the first meeting of the committee was held in Dublin on February 11. Information was sought as to the number of matches and the approximate dates the team would need to be in New Zealand and Australia.

It was suggested that consideration be given to the number of games as on this depended to a large extent the ability of leading players to get leave. The secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. A. E. Neilson, said the 1930 British team arrived in Well'- 1 ington on May 14 and played its first match on May 21. In all 21 games were played in this country, including four tests.

The team left Wellington on August 15, arriving in Sydney on August 19, and played seven matches in Australia, including three tests. The chairman, Mr. A. St C. Belcher, said he thought it reasonable to ask for the same programme. It was fair to ask for seven tests, including those in Australia, as when Australian and New Zealand teams went Home they played a total of eight tests. Mr. L. V. Carmine observed that any reduction in the number of games would cause problems, as all unions would be anxious for a fixture. Mr. T. C. Morrison considered that endeavours should be made to reduce the number of tests to three. A tour involving seven tests was a severe one. Members agreed that with the exception of a tour of Britain, which involved four tests because of the existence of four home unions, all future tours would probably have a limit of three tests, but this was a matter for future negotiation.