UNIVERSITY RUGBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 18

UNIVERSITY RUGBY.

VISIT OF SYDNEY FIFTEEN. NEW ZEALAND TEST TEAMS. PROSPECTS OF AUCKLANDERS. The Sydney University Rugby football team will leave on Friday for Wellington, arriving there on Tuesday. Tho first match of its New Zealand tour will be played the following day against Victoria College. This is somewhat sudden, but such tours have to be arranged so that no timo is wasted. Tho visiting team cannot be expected to be at its best for its first match, but by the time it reaches Auckland it should be able to give displays in keeping with what one may expect. from a good university fifteen. Mr. J. N. Millard, of Wellington, who is sole selector of the Now Zealand Universities team to meet Sydney, has been travelling about watching the club games in the various centres lie was in Auckland last Saturday, being an interested spectator at the match between University and Grafton at the Show Grounds. Ho was favourably impressed with the play of Anderson, Linton, Minns, Bush and Carter. Anderson is assured of a place in the team for the first match, to be played in Christchurch, and also probably in tho second and third tests in Wellington and Auckland. Bush's most serious rival for the fullback position is Stevenson, of Otago. So far as Minns and Linton are concerned they may not be able to obtain leavi to travel south, in which caso they will most likely play in the third test only. Mr. Millard is hard put to it to find a good centre-threequarter, and tho chances ,ara Carter, tho Auckland half, would have filled that position in the first test in Christchurch had he been able to obtain leave to travel. In Carter's absence the centre position will probably bo filled by Hawkes, who plays second five-eighth for Canterbury College. It is something rather unique in university football that a back cannot be found for any particular position. There is usually a surplus for all positions. Wing-tbreequaiters are offering in all the centres, likewise there is no scarcity of good forwards. Lees, of Victoria College, is almost sure to fill the halfback position iu the first test. He is reported to be very good. The announcement of Sir. Millard's team will bo awaited with interest. Following is a list of the matches to be played by the touring Sydney University team: — May 22.—Victoria College, at Wellington. May 25.—Otngo University, at Duneclin. May 29.—Canterbury College, at Christchurch. June I.—New Zealand Universities, first test, at Christchurch. June s.—New Zealand Universities, second test, at Wellington. June B.—New Zealand Universities, third test, at Auckland. June 12. —Auckland University, at Auckland.