Key Players May Miss Lions Tour Of N.Z.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 13

Key Players May Miss Lions Tour Of N.Z.

(Special Correspondent N.Z P.A)

LONDON.

Several leading British Rugby players will probably turn down the Australia-New Zealand tour later this year because of its length, the “Guardian’s” Rugby writer says.

The tour, which will . also include Canada, i will last four and a half months. Although the tour itself is. some months off, there is every sign that there will be keen competition for the 30 places in the tour party. One of the most strongly contested positions will be' that of lock forward. Players; of the calibre of B. V. Price and B. E. Thomas (Wales). P. K. Stagg and M. J. Camp-1

bell-Lamerton (Scotland) and |W. J. Mcßride (Ireland) are i likely to be the strongest competitors. For the prop forward position players like R. J. >;McLoughlin (Ireland), D. M. ; Rollo (Scotland). P. E. Judd . and A. L. Horton (England) and D. Williams (Wales) head ’ the list. There is also a chance that some young props may make , a name for themselves during ■ | the next two months. ‘’ As yet no obviously out- . | standing hooker has yet come ■ |to light.

A. E. I. Pask (Wales) is probably the only choice for the number eight position, but none of the four Home countries have yet put forward any convincing claims to provide the other number eight, the “Guardian” says. The best displays so far for scrum-half have come from A. Lewis (Wales) and A. J. iHastie (Scotland). At stand-off all four couni tries have strong claimants. Centres Below Standard The finding of centres of the required standards seems likely to prove difficult since only D. K. Jones (Wales) has proved good enough. If M. P. Weston (England) who broke a leg early in the season, could get himself fully fit in time his experience in the three positions of centre, stand-off and full-back might make him a useful member of the party. S. J. Watkins (Wales) looks the best right wing at the moment and although K. F. Savage (England) has played in only one international he has staked a strong claim for the left wing. The Lions’ selectors will i have four good full-backs to choose from, the best being T. Price (Wales) and T. J. I Kiernan (Ireland).