RUGBY FOOTBALL PLANS FOR SAILING OF ALL BLACKS

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL PLANS FOR SAILING OF ALL BLACKS

AVELLINGTON, Feb. 24 Plans for the departure of the 1949 New Zealand Rugby team for South Africa will have to be changed due to the alteration in both the dale and iinal port of departure. The projected date, April 13, is about- a weex earlier than had been anticipated . The New Zealand Rugby Union had made arrangements for the players to assemble in Wellington a day or two before they were due to leave so that all the final details could be attended to. Apart from the union’s arrangements there would have been official functions, doubtless including a State farewell at Parliament Buildings. It is expected that the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir Bernard Freyberg) will be in residence in Auckland when the team leaves. It was in Auckland that he acted as host to the 194/ team.

iNow that the team is to sail from Auckland it will be for the N.Z.R.F.U. management commit tee to decide whether the team should still be assembled in Wellington and then sent to Auckland ready to step aboard the ship, or whether it would be better to do what is required at Auckland. When the 194 7 team flew to Australia from Auckland the players assembled in Auckland, but some of die details, including the signing of many forms which are a prelude to departure from the Dominion, hau already been attended to in Wellington.

The South African venture is, of course, a much more formidable undertaking than a month’s visit to Australia. This is particularly reflected in the outfitting of the team, out it is also apparent in other directions. MEDICALLY FIT

All the players for Africa, for example, had to pass medical tests. They were all successful, tnough mw or two had various matters to be put right after their first examination. „ , . Then, too, the player are all being vaccinated. Most ot them have already oeen through the process, but at least one is'leaving his tin This is P. Henderson, the winger, from Wanganui. Henderson a track sprinter; obtained permission to have his vaccination delayed so that he would not be off-colour at the time of the national athletic championships early next month.

One advantage of being in a national sports team is that the formalities associated with leaving the country are greatly facilitated lor the individual player. He does not have to do much more than sign iorms laid down in front of him. He escapes the wearisome trail o. the ordinary citizen, who, before making his first trip abroad, finds out what he has to do and where he lias to do it by a system of trial and error.

SAME DATE If the 1949 All Blacks leave on April 13 they will be sailing zx years to the day after the first team left here to play the Springboks. In 1928, however, the 13th was a Friday, 'this time it is a Wednesday, which should make it a less unfavourable omen for the superstitious. The opening match in 1928 was against Western Province Country on May 30. This year the tour is to open against Western Province Universities at. Cape Town on May 31.