RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 April 1931, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

VISIT OF AUSTRALIAN TEAM. Definite advice that an Australian representative Rugby team will leav<3 Sydney for New Zealand on or about August 14th was received at a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Wednesday evening, and a sub-com-mittee was appointed to draw up a tentative itinerary for the tour. Eight matches will be played, including one Test match and one match against a Maori team. When the letter was read the chairman, Mr. S. S. Dean, pointed out that under an agreement between the two unions there would be a limit of eight matches to the tour. If that was so there could be only one Test, and probably matches against Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay, Dunedin, and Sk game against a Maori team would be a good itinerary. Mr. E. McKenzie suggested that matches be arranged against North Island team and South Island teams. The North v. South match could be played prior to the selection of the New Zealand Test team.

Mr. T. Fletcher thought that unions such as Nelson and Bvdlef, which seldom received big matches, should be considered. He suggested that a cable be sent to New South Wales asking if ten matches would be agreed to instead of the eight. The chairman: Well, do we want ten? In view of the economic conditions, I don’t think we do. We should not ask leave for players for New Zealand Test teams more than is necessary this year. That is why I suggested one Test. Mr. E. Wylie: The Australian players can’t afford to be away too long either.

Messrs Dean, Wylie, and A. C. Kitto were appointed a sub-committee to draw up an itinerary, which will be discussed at another meeting of the committee on Tuesday next. It will then be presented to the annual meeting the following day.