NO PRACTICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27447, 21 July 1950, Page 8

NO PRACTICE

British Isles Team

REFUSED USE OF GROUND

PA AUCKLAND, July 20. 'The British Isles Rugby team was refused permission today to train on the No. 1 oval of Eden Park. Rather than train on the No. 3 ground, which was considered a risk because of the insecure surface, the players returned to their hotel without doing more than don and doff their, training gear. The cause of'an argument, which developed before the players left the ground was the decision of the groundsman not to allow 'training on the field while he and his staff were marking out the lines. When this was communicated to the captain of the British Isles team, Dr K. D. Mullen, the objection was raised that the team desired the facilities which had been provided in every other centre in NeW Zealand, of a practice upon the pitch on which the match was to be played. Officials of the Auckland Rugby Union then explained that the No. 3 oval was available until such time as the work on the main oval had been completed. Mullen reiterated his request for facilities on the main ground, and when informed that these were not immediately available, suggested that no damage could result to the pitch from a practice because the team had observed that the custom of playing several curtain-raisers before its matches had been used in every district in New Zealand in which it had played. 1 When the facilities for practice on the No. 1 oval were denied, Mullen announced that his players would not risk the potholes of No. 3 ground, but would return to the hotel. Members of the British Isles team, including Mullen and the manager, Surgeon-captain Osborne, tonight refused to comment on the matter other than to say, “The incident is closed.” This remai’k was echoed by officials of the Auckland Rugby Union.