RUGBY TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 141, 14 May 1930, Page 7

RUGBY TOUR

BRITISH TEAM ARRIVES. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. MEN PARTICULARLY FIT. (By Telepragh—Special to Standard.) . WELLINGTON, May 14. The British Rugby team arrived by the .Rangitata this morning. “Yes, we could be called a golfing team, all right,” remarked one f t them. Quite half the team were'tarrying golf outfits. Another first impression was that Mr James Baxter’s men are not impressive in height, but they are mostly of the nuggety type and *p ar ticularly fit. Daily gymnastic exercise was undertaken, and the members of the team will not even admit that the five weeks’ trip has made them soft. They received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd, which was large, despite the awkward hour of arrival and the remoteness of the landing place. The team came ashore in a tender, accompanied by Mr Dean, manager of the last All Black tourists, who introduced them to the leading Rugby officials. “We are pleased to see Mr Baxter and his merry men safe and sound, and we are looking forward to their tour with great interest,” stated Mr Dean.

The city’s official welcome will take place to-morrow. From then the Wellington Rugby Union will take care of the players until their departure on Friday for Wanganui, where on Wednesday they will play their first match in New Zealand. On Thursday the visitors will be engaged in practice at Athletic Park. It is 22 years ago since a British team visited New Zealand, and it is just oyer 40 years ago that Stoddart and bis team taught the Dominion’s Rugby ©layers the inner meaning of the passing game. Mr Baxter, the manager of the team, is a well-known and popular personality in the Rugby world. For many years he has been chairman f f the selection committee at Home, and it is in no small measure duo to his efforts that England has reached her present position in international football. In his playing days Mr Baxter represented England in several International games, and for four years was captain of the Birkenhead Park Club, which team played 95 matches and lost only 10 during that time. He was manager of the British team that toured the Argentine m 1927, and since 1926 he has been a member of the International Board. His efforts to keep out of Rugby anything that might tend to lower the amateur standard have earned applause in every country where Rugby is played. There are 23 internationals included in the side, and most ,of the players .are young.