All Blacks Leave For Australia

Northern Advocate, 8 July 1938, Page 2

All Blacks Leave For Australia

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] WELLINGTON. This Day. The team of 25 All Blacks, with Dr. G. J. Adams and Mr A. McDonald as managers, left Wellington by the Wanganclla yesterday afternoon on its Australian tour. In addition to Mr McDonald, the 1905-7 All Blacks were represented by Mr J. J. O'Sullivan, of Taranaki, who travelled with the team. Five of the players—J. R. Griffiths, A. Lambourne, R. R. King and R.M. McKenzie (1934 All Blacks) and W. J. Phillips (New Zealand Maoris, 1935) were bound on their second Rugby tour of Australia. The Farewell, To farewell the team, a large crowd gathered at Queen’s Wharf, in spite of the vain, although not all waited until the Wanganclla left her berth. The team and its managers were the guests of the New Zealand Rugby Union executive at a city hotel yesterday afternoon, the morning having been spent by players in completing fitting of clothes and other gear, and in meeting friends. New Zealand’s Confidence. “We are sending you away with every confidence that you will uphold the great reputation that New Zealand teams have in Australia,” said Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at the farewell. “You are going as the accredited representatives of New Zealand, and the country is judged by the type of manhood and womanhood that represents it.

We know you are going- to play bright and attractive tootball, and that you will win with modesty, and lose with a good heart."

The captain. N. A. Mitchell, said: “Wo welcome the arrangement to play international rules. Rugby is a very democratic sort of game, and one that is played generally by those whoso jobs leave little time for sport. We do not think much of those who would change Rugby from a game for players to a spectacle for onlookers."

Dick to Join All Blacks,

The Auckland wing three-quarter, J. Dick, who was selected for the team but was replaced at the last minute owing to illness, will now be able to make the trip. Advice was received from the union yesterday that the parent body was agreeable to Dick leaving the Dominion on July 18 and being officially attached to the team. The New Zealand Union stated further that Dick may possibly be played In the last two or three matches. The chairman of the union said that a pei’sonal letter had been sent to Dick, expressing the union's regret that he could not be included in the team. This statement was in reply to an Auckland telegram stating that Dick was unaware that ho had been dropped from the team.

"A telegram was sent to the Auckland Rugby Union to the effect that, in view of the medical report that there was a great risk of infection, Dick could not be permitted to make the trip." said Mr Dean.