RUGBY LEAGUE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17142, 18 September 1926, Page 7

RUGBY LEAGUE.

THE LEAGUE TOURISTS

A VANCOUVER, WORK-OUT

CAN AD IA N API‘II ECIATIOX

VANCOUVER, Aug. 21

The New Zealand “ All Blacks,” whoi arrived on the jnotorship Aorangi on Friday morning on their way to England, held a work-out at Brockton Oval yesterday afternoon, and gave evidence, of being a. splendid lot of athletes. Contrary to the general impression they are not a professional side, but as they will, bo competing against professional teams in the Old Country they will bit barred from playing against Canadiaiii Rugby teams. In New Zealand, these players are not paid, but they play the, Northern Union style of Rugby, that, is thirteen men instead of the regulation fifteen as played under Rugby Union rules, and their style of play is much faster and more open than ordinary Rugby.

The team mast, not be confused with the. famous “ All Blacks ” who toured Britain last year, and who played in Vancouver on their way home—they ore simply known as “ All Blacks ” and have no connection whatever with last year's tourists. Neither should a mistake he made in connecting them with, the “ Maoris,” a Rugby Union team, from New Zealand which is also to toxin Britain and France this season, which is travelling to Europe by the direct, route. SOME BIG MEN. There are three Maoris in the team, L. Mason, Wilson-1 fall and C. Gardiner, and each one is a nnignificicnt specimen of youthful manhood, standing six feet, high and weighing over 2001bs. In addition there are several others of like dimensions and weight, notably Devine and Petersen. All of the players are possessed, of great speed. Gardiner is a graduate of Cambridge University and was a lieutenant in the Anzac forces in the World War, and is one of tiro New Zealanders who hold the Serbian war cross.

F. Henry, another member of the side, is an Englishman, who migrated to New Zealand two years ago, and is therefore quickly getting a trip back home. He was selected to make the trip to New Zealand with the English Northern Rugby Union team under the captaincy of Jonathan Parkin in 1923, but for some reason did not travel. Two members of the side, George (Red) Carroll and L. Petersen, formerly played the Rugby Union code, but have turned over. Carroll was a. member of the 1922-23 “All Blacks” team, and Petersen, who belongs to the Christchurch Mnrist club, was also on New Zealand representative teams in 191920 21-22 and 1923. Providing arrangements can be made ,m exhibition match between two teams from the party will be played in Vancouver on arriving here on the way back. They have several new'features, tiie principal one being that a man in possession of the ball when on the ground must be given freedom to get up. The other players must not touch him and he can thus open up the game again without Hie necessity of a scrum. Frequently a. player in possession of the “ oval” goes down deliberately when about to be tackled in order to gain an advantage.