AWAY AFTER ALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 5

AWAY AFTER ALL

MAORIS SAIL FOR FRANCE SATISFACTORY GUARANTEES MADE ENGLISH GATE MONEY After long an 3 anxious negotiations the Maoris have at last sailed to do battle on the Rugby fields of France and Great Britain. The definite news yesterday morning that the tour was to eventuate was received with jubilation by all followers of the game. The word received was to the effect that the French Rugby Union had paid in the £2OOO for the passages Home and would guarantee the remaining £4OOO required for the tour. The security for tho balance is the gate money from the fifteen matches to be played in England and Wales. The English Rugby Union has guaranteed £250 per match and this is ample to provide the passage money Home for the tourists. The team left for Sydney by the Marama yesteruhy afternoon, to connect with the Narkunda, by which vessel the tourists will travel to Marseilles. Messrs W. T. Parata and H. Harris are travelling with the team as joint-managers. In England Mr Harris will represent New Zealand at the Imperial Rugby Conference. As a representative of tlie New Zealand Olympic Games Association, Mr Harris will also confer with officials of the British Olympic Association on matters of common interest. T. Love, the ’Varsit" five-eighth, who was included on Thursday in place of Nepia, was able to make arrangements in time to accompany tho team. , . The New Zealand Rugby Union farewelled the tourists yeslerday afternoon, and th°re a 1 erod'd on the wharf to see tho steamer depart.