RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 May 1930, Page 3

RUGBY

WELCOMED TO WANGANUI. STRONG SIDE FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) / WANGANUI, May Hi.. “Wo have been in New Zealand only three days and the welcome we received in Wellington on Wednesday and in Wanganui to-day endorses only what we have heard at Home—that the hospitality of New Zealand is. unequalled the world over.” This was Jiow Air Baxter, manager of the British Rugby team, replied to a welcome accorded: the visitors on their arrival at ’Wanganui to-day. The team, ac-eompanied by Dr Adams, president of ’the New Zealand Union, travelled from Wellington by the New Plymouth express and was met by the Mayor, Air W. J. Rogers, in the Civic Square. The whole Dominion was anxious to know how the visitors shaped, Air Rogers said. The line of thought he took in these things was that what mattered most of all was the spirit of the game. “Win or Jose, the game is the tiling,” lie said. He felt sure. the Wanganui team would give the visitors a good game, “These visits are far too few,” Air Rogers continued. “We look upon them as ties _to' bind the freedom of the British-speaking peoples of the world.” Dr Adams said Wanganui had accorded the team a welcome which would not bo bettered, in any part of the Dominion. “On behalf of the players I thank you for your welcome,” said Air Prentice, the team’s captain. “We are all fit and well and we are very keen for the game next Wednesday. AVe look forward to a, great game. It does not matter which side wins; we will endeavour to play the game the way it should he played.”. The welcome was- most enthusiastic, over 2000 people attending. The team will attend the Wanganui race meeting to-morrow after -practice in the morning. It is expected the team chosen will he the strongest side possible on reputation. It. will he announced on Monday. ALL BLACKS’. COLOURS. FURTHER PROTEST VOICED. NAPIER. Alav 10.

The Hawke's Bay Bug by Union lias derided to join with other unions in voicing a protest against the decision of the New Zealand Union that the representatives in the Test matches against the British team shall play in white jerseys. Mr N. McKenzie, who brought the matter forward at a. meeting to-night, thought that if representations were made, to Mr Baxter, manager of the British team, they might come to some arrangements whereby the visitors in Tests could be clad in red. white* and Mue, as in the case of previous British teams.

UNION; PRESIDENT’S APPEAL. WANGANUI, May 16. The discarding of the all black jersey for the forthcoming Rugby Tests iva.s referred to by Dr Adams, president of the New Zealand Union, at the welcome to the British team at Wanganui I to-day. He appealed to Rugby follow- ! ers to bo sportsmen, realising the position tlio union antL Mr Baxter were -placed in. He asked Wanganui particularly, no matter what the sentiment attached to the Dominion’s standard colours, to help the visitors and the union out of the difficulty. They had taken the only course open to them. FIRST RUGBY GAME. SIXTY YEARS AGO AT WELLINGTON. WANGANUI. May 10. Dr Adams, welcoming the British team to Wanganui to-day. referred to his announcement at Wellington yesterday that the first game of Rugby in New Zealand was played at Auckland. This comment had excited interest, and lie had been informed since that the game was first played in Wellington on September 12, 1870, when Mnnro (Palmerston North) captained Wellington and K Tennant Nelson.