Official engagements cancelled

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 32

Official engagements cancelled

NZPA staff correspondent Dunedin

The Lions team has cancelled all official engagements in Dunedin, apart from its regular visits to schools, to devote its time singlemindedly to its preparation for Saturday’s third test against New Zealand.

It is common, when the team arrives in any town, for it to receive a host of invitations to address sporting and social clubs, service organisations, to undertake charity and promotional

visits, and to tour hospitals and schools. On this leg of their New Zealand tour, however, the manager, Willie John McBride has refused all invitations except those requesting players to visit local colleges. “We are preparing for a test match,” Mr Mcßride said. “But apart from that, right through the tour we have been busy. We have done some things, some of the players have gone to some clubs at night. That can be very demanding on players.

“The one thing we have maintained all through the tour is our association with schools. The boys willingly do it and quite enjoy it. We have a school adoption scheme which I okayed at the beginning of the tour. “But coming up to this test we really just cannot afford the time to honour all the invitations we have received,” he said.

A capacity crowd of 36,000 is expected at Carisbrook on Saturday for the test. All seating accommoda-

tion has been taken and the terrace tickets are selling fast.

However, the chairman of the Otago Rugby Football Union’s management committee, Mr John Dowling, said there will still be gate sales for terrace positions from 10 a.m. on Saturday. “People who come from out of town will still get into the game,” Mr Dowling said.

The last time Carisbrook was full was in 1959 when Don Clarke kicked six penalties. The Lions were beaten 18-17.