SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 11

SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR.

To Visit New Zealand in 1937. INVITATION ACCEPTED. (Special to the ’* Star.”) WELLINGTON, December 5. Advice is to hand from Cape Town that the South African Rugby Football Board, at a recent meeting, decided to accept the invitation to send a team on a joint visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1937. A recommendation to this effect had been made at a conference held just prior to the Australian Rugby team’s departure from South Africa. Dr Matthews, manager of the Australian team, having attended the conference and urged that the tour of both countries be undertaken. It is also reported (states the “Post”) that the unanimous opinion of all the South African Rugby Unions was that there should be a five-year interval before any further international fixtures, whether at home or overseas, as too many international fixtures interfered with club football, which was definitely the most vital phase of the game from a South African point of view. Consideration was also given to the proposal that an Empire Rugby football tournament be held in London. The report states that it is possible that South Africa might join in a tournament as suggested, provided that it was substituted for the visit to Australia and New Zealand and that thereafter the five-year interval was maintained.