HUGE CROWDS EXPECTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 5

HUGE CROWDS EXPECTED

SPRINGBOKS’ COMING TOUR EXPENSES OP VISIT HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Speaking as a member of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. F. Glasgow, of Wellington, a former All Black; advised the Canterbury Rugby Union on Saturday evening to prepare for crowds 0f‘50,000 and upwards when the Springboks played in Christchurch next year. Mr. Glasgow remarked that a great deal of work and worry was involved in arranging a visit by an overseas team. Finance always had to be seriously considered. “It is all very fine to say that when the British team came through in 1930 the New Zealand Union made so much,” he added, “but in these cases we have to be prepared for an outlay of about. £30,000. .Supposing.one ..of these tours fell flat through, plaj ers not proving up to standard, we would lose on the whole thing, and go down £IO,OOO or so. That would be a serious’thing for Rugby in this country. It is, therefore, necessary that visiting teams should prove their ability on the field.

“The South Africans, I understand, are bringing 32 players, a manager, and an assistant manager. The original proposal was that they should bring 29 players, but they are quite willing to pay the expenses of the extra men. It is a wise precaution and I think you will agree that that, is a sporting attitude.”