THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1949 SPORTSMEN AMBASSADORS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4125, 20 April 1949, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1949 SPORTSMEN AMBASSADORS

Now that the Dominion’s < cricketers have arrived in England and the All Blacks have departed for South Africa, the public of New Zealand will be able to look forward to an unusually interesting series of sporting contests. It is not every year that a Rugby fifteen goes overseas to meet a traditional rival for international honours in this particular sport, nor is it a common occurrence for a New Zealand cricket eleven to leave these shores. Even more rare is it for Rugby and cricket teams to be away at the same time, and the year 1949 will therefore be one of unusual note in the country’s sporting annals. Because the tours coincide with the football season in New Zealand, perhaps the minds of the people here will be directed more to the South African scene, and < perhaps, also tradition wifi demand for the South African tour the greater share of attention. But there can be no doubt that the cricketers in England will be followed with greater interest than usual for it would seem l that our team on this occasion appears particularly well equipped to give a good account of itself. Whatever the outcome of the contests in- both the United Kingdom and South Africa, New Zealanders know that their representatives, whether in victory or defeat, will uphold the highest principles of sportsmanship. In very many respects the people of England and South Africa will judge New Zealanders as a 4 whole by the conduct of the visiting teams, for the great distances separating these units of the Commonwealth prevent frequent direct contact with each other. If any indication is needed of the significance of contacts on the sporting field it can perhaps be found in the fact that, to at least one generation of New Zealanders, the term “ South African ” is synonymous with the term “Springbok,” while in South Africa the term “ New Zealander ” conjures up the term “ All Black.” The cricketers and footballers who will represent us overseas are ambassadors of goodwill, men who have been chosen for their qualities of manly sportsmanship. It is the spirit in which they meet their opponents, as much as in the scoring points of . each game, that they and the 1 country which has sent them abroad will be finally judged.