N.Z. INVITES SIX

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 20

N.Z. INVITES SIX

M. C. Gibson (Ireland), thei brilliant attacking midfield back who toured I New Zealand last winter with the unbeaten British Lions might be seen in action again in Canterbury this year. He is one of six international overseas players who have been invited in April by the New Zealand Rugby Union to play in three matches in aid of the Commonwealth Games fund. They will play as members of invitation teams, the Cantabrians, the Centurions and the Barbarians. Their matches will probably be against provincial teams on dates in April still to be approved. Another member of the victorious Lions team, the Welsh full-back, J. P. R. Williams, was also invited, but he will not be available because his medical studies have reached an important stage.

Invitations have also been sent to two South Africans, the veteran lock, F. C. H. du Preez, and the dynamic flanker, J. H. Ellis, the Australian half-back, J. N. Hipwell and the Fijian threequarters, P. Tikoisuva.

i Only Tikoisuva, who toured New Zealand in the 1970 , Fijian team and later I played in the English Rugby Union centennial i matches is a confirmed I starter, although the others are expected to be available.