RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

N.Z. Starting Five-Year Plan. TOURS AHEAD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. We can say that we are now startnig operations on a five-year Rugby plan. said Mr S. S. Dean, chairman ot the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby' Union, at a meeting in Wellington to-night. “A New Zealand team is to tour Australia this year and England in the following year. In 1936, an Australian team is coming here: in 1937, a South African team will probably’ visit New Zealand; and in 1938 we will have to consider a return trip to Australia. “ There are indications, too, that Rugby problems generally are working towards a definite conclusion.’” he said. ” That is very much more the case now than ten years ago.” Reference to a probable tour by a South African team followed a decision made at the meeting, correspondence having been entered into with Australia. It was decided to approve of an invitation being sent to South Africa for a representative team to tour Australia and New Zealand during the 1 937 season. Arrangements and terms for the tour were left for the incoming Management Committee, which would negotiate with the New South Wales. Union on the subject. Visit to Canada. In connection with the All Blacks* English tour, it was announced that, subject to financial arrangements being satisfactory, England had approved of the team returning to New Zealand via Canada and playing matches there. Japan also had been requesting that the All Blacks should play there on their return from England. but it was stated that, as this would make the tour unduly strenuous. the invitation would have to be declined. The terms of the competition between Australia and New Zealand this season for the Bledisloe Cup came before the meeting, when a letter was received from the New South Wales Union. The letter was in replv to a suggestion from New Zealand that both of the test matches to be plaved in Australia should count in deciding which country should hold the cup. It stated that, should each country win one test, it meant that New Zealand, having neither lost nor won the cup for the year, would be entitled to hold it until such time as it definitely lost it. The Otago Union submitted an application for the North v. South Island match to be played at Dunedin tills season. Applications for reinstatement to Rugby under the union were granted as follows:-—A. J. Rossiter. J. T. Griffiths. C. J. Elliot. W. E. Crawford. C. Brown, J. M. Carnley. L. K. Mailman, W. B. Mosely. G. R. Dobson. E. Purcell, L. M. Donovan, B. Farmer. T. W. Preston. R. N. S. Overend. R. T. Goodchild. S. H. Perriton. E. A. Larson, D. P. Marshall and A. V. D. Handisides.