ALL BLACKS EXPECTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 16

ALL BLACKS EXPECTED

CANADIANS’ PREPARING Matches in January Arrangements were being completed here for an exhibition Rugby game between a Victorian rep team and the New Zealand All Blacks on Wednesday, January 29, it was announced by H. J. Ketchen, secretary of British Columbia Rugby Union (stated a Vancouver paper recently). After lengthy negotiations which have been proceeding for over six months or so, final details of the visit were being wound up this week. The event will be one of the highlights of 1936 sport in Victoria, provided the weather holds for the engagement. According to plans which have been laid to date, the New Zealanders, reputedly every bit as good as the famous team which played here in 1924, will arrive in Vancouver on the return journey from the British tour on January 23. They have been asked to play three games, one in Vancouver on January 25, a Saturday, and another the following Monday, They will then proceed to Victoria for a game here on January 29 and leave that night for home aboard the Niagara, according to present plans. The games will be played against Vancouver and Victoria rep, squads. No effort will be made to build up a British Columbia fifteen for the fixtures. “Facing the terrible possibility of hard weather at that period of the year, both Victoria and Vancouver unions will do everything in their power to keep grounds in condition. Straw will be laid on the various pitches to keep the frost out of the ground and prayers will go up for the Rugby officials against the possibility of snow.

“Reports from New Zealanders who have come from the Antipodes recently state the team is one of the finest that has been developed in the islands.