RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5229, 19 March 1904, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TE AUTE NATIVE COLLEGE TEAM. VISIT TO NE\V~SOUTH WALES. Arrangements in connection with, the visit of Te Ante Native College Kugby team to Australia in June next are now almost completed. The New Zealand Union, has given the necessary permission. A list of matches is being framed i under the jurisdiction of the New South Wales Union. ■ Tho tour will commence, at Sydney on June Ith, and will extend until Juno 25th, a visit also being paid to Bathurst. Matches will bo played against teams competing in the first and second grade of the great public schools competition in New South Wales, the' Universities, and a combined State Schools match. Tin* team will leave New Zealand at tho end of April. It will bo under tho control of Mr J. Thornton, headmaster of tho college. ' . . A great amount of interest is being taken in the visit by the football authorities in New South Wales. Considering the fact that the college has more than held its 'own with tho redoubtable Wanganui Collegiate senior teams in their annual competitions, it is expected that the native lads will return homo with a creditable record.

Mr Norris, secretary of the New Zealand Union, who was manager of the New Zealand team that recently toured in Australia, and who acted in the capacity of referee in one of the principal college games in Sydney, and is also well acquainted with tho capabilities of the Te Ante team, gives it as his opinion that if the Te Ante boys strike form quickly, they-will - give a good account of themselves and more than hold their own with the school teams on tho other side. In fact, it would not- be at all surprising to see them come through the tour with a record similar to that achieved by the New Zealand representative team in so faros winning matches-is concerned.