“No Tour Under N.Z. Rules”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 17

“No Tour Under N.Z. Rules”

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY. Negotiations for a New Zealand Universities Rugby side to tour Australia , next year have broken down, according to Sydney Rugby authorities. New Zealand’s refusal not to include graduates—who could be provincial representatives or even All Blacks—is blamed for the collapse of the tour. The New Zealand side was to have played eight or nine

games in Australia, including

two unofficial tests, during the May, 1967, vacation. Australian authorities made it clear yesterday that there is no chance of the tour taking place, unless New Zealand changes its attitude. The Australians asked that only undergraduates be considered for the tour, as Australia has done on New Zealand visits. Mr R. Sharpe, the Sydney University club’s delegate to the Australian University Sports Association, which was organising the tour, said: “We are sick to death of having our younger players, all of whom are students, annihilated by older bitrices.” Mr Sharpe said that the

Australian universities were unanimous in their decision not to accept a New Zealand side which included graduates. He said it was now up to New Zealand to decide whether to change its system and let the tour take place. Mr A. Hattan, treasurer of the Sydney University club, said: “It’s high time Australia stood on its own feet and did not bow down to New Zealand.

“In the past we have let New Zealand dictate the terms, and our chaps have faced an almost impossible task. I can’t see why our boys should be butchered by seasoned internationals.” Mr Hattan said that in New

Zealand once a player had represented a university he long as he liked. “Our rules are hard and fast and they don’t allow that A university player must be a student at the university, or have graduated not longer than six months before the match.

“The New Zealand rule is crazy. In 1964 when our boys went over, I believe there were about six All Blacks playing against them in one match.

“We could probably field a team of present or former Wallabies if we adopted that system, but It would take the university flavour right out of it”