No Dress Suits For Al! Blacks In South Africa

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1948, Page 5

No Dress Suits For Al! Blacks In South Africa

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.). —Dress suits and starched shirtfronts are out as far as next year’s tour of South Africa by the New Zealand Rugby team is concerned. The official uniform for social functions will be grey slacks and All Black blazers. Ties will be plain black, except for one moderately-sized white fernleaf. The letters “N.Z.” will not appear.

These decisions were reached at last night’s meeting of the executive of the NZRFU.

ranged for the All Blacks to be honorary members of several clubs while they were in South Africa.

In addition to their personal wardrobes, players will be issued with the following gear: Four jerseys, three uairs of football socks, three pairs of pants, one blazer, two pairs of grey slacks, two ties, one scarf, one pullover. one pair of sandshoes, one pair of football boots, one canvas kitbag. Silver ferns to be worn on the lapel will also be handed to players.

The letter added that he was calling a meeting of New Zealanders in the Transvaal to decide what could be done to make the team’s stay as pleasant as possible. MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

All Blacks going to South Africa next yean are to undergo two medical examinations— one in the immediate future and the other shortly before their departure. Doctors in each centre will be appointed by the New Zealand Rugby Union. This was decided at last night’s meeting of the executive of the NZRU after the chairman (Mr Belcher) had reported that two of the selectors, Messrs Strang and McKenzie, had asked him ?o bring the matter of medical examinations before the executive.

The union issue will not include hats or overcoats. Fjktra supplies of each item of equipment will be taken for purposes of replacement. LAYOUT OF £IOOO Outfitting the team will involve a layout of about £IOOO. Mr J. H. Parker said that unless South Africa expressed a desire to the contrary, he thought dress suits should be omitted.

The other thing which the selectors wanted, said Mr Belcher, was each player’s acceptance in writing of the invitation to go on tour. The secretary was instructed to have the necessary forms prepared.

He doubted whether many of the players had them, or whether they would be able to procure them. He added that the 1924 team in England never wore dress 'suits on official occasions, although some of the players wore them at unofficial functions. Mr T. C. Morrison said he had been impressed with the neat appearance of the 1946 Australian team when wearing their grey slacks and green blazers, their official uniform. The chairman (Mr A. St. C. Belcher) moved the adoption of the sub-com-mittee’s recommendations. HONORARY CLUB MEMBERS

He expressed the opinion that all gear should, if possible, be obtained in New Zealand.

Mr H. J. Constable, honorary agent for the New Zealand Government in South Africa, advised that he had ar-