Argentinians to play in Christchurch

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 38

Argentinians to play in Christchurch

Two rugby teams from Argentina will play in Christchurch next month. The University club will host a party of 60 from San Cirano, one of the top Buenos Aires clubs. Thirty of the party are players and the other 30 supporters. San Cirano will play a University XV at Rugby Park on Saturday, March 8, and according to the University senior coach, Laurie O’Reilly, it will be the best available team. The curtain-raiser will be in the form of a senior trial for those who miss selection. Mr O’Reilly, who is coaching the University seniors again after a break of some five seasons, has promised that his team will play “positive and innovative rugby” this winter. “I don’t believe that the side has been playing traditional university-style rugby in recent years and that is what I intend to get back to. We have the

backs and we are going to use them,” said Mr O’Reilly, who has already reappointed Garry Barkle as captain. University has been a club which has forged strong links with overseas countries in the last 15 years, especially close ties being established with Japanese rugby. “We hope we can do something similar with Argentina as it is obviously a country which is going to become popular with rugby teams looking for tours,” said Mr O’Reilly. The second Argentinian side will visit Christchurch in mid-March. It is an under 21 team from the Alumni club and it will play a side from the Shirley club. This game will be at Rugby Park on Tuesday, March 18. Both tours have come about through contacts made when the All Blacks visited Argentina in October last year.