PLAYERS CHOSEN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 3

PLAYERS CHOSEN

League 13

For Test

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND.

The national selectors’ choice of experienced test players for the New Zealand Rugby League first test team to play against Great Britain at Carlaw Park on August 6 is sure to cause controversy. The team announced yesterday is:—

R. Tait (Auckland); B. T. Reidy (Auckland), R. W. Bailey (Auckland), F. R. Cristian (Auckland), R. Mincham (Auckland); K. M. Kennedy (West Coast); G. S. Farrar (Waikato); J. K. Dixon (West Coast); W. G. Deacon (Waikato), E. Moore (Auckland); H. K. Emery (Auckland, C. O’Neil (Wellington), S. K. Edwards (Auckland).

Reserves:—back: G. J. Clarke (Canterbury); forward: G. Smith (Wellington). Although New Zealand failed to win any of the six test matches they played during their tour of England and France last year, they have retained 11 of the 1965 tourists in the test side.

In seeking experience, the national selectors, Messrs W. Telford (Auckland), M. Church (Wellington) and E. Butts (Christchurch), have recalled the 1961 Kiwi half-back, G. S. Farrar, who has not played test football since then, and included one new Kiwi, the Auckland wing, R. Mincham.

They have switched two or three established players to new positions, putting Chrisitian from wing to centre and G. M. Kennedy from centre to stand-off half.