All Blacks Will Tour South Africa

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1948, Page 7

All Blacks Will Tour South Africa

press Association )

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.WELLINUTON, August 30. lnformatioxx concerning saiiings roceived by the : executive of the Nevi Zealand Rugby Union today, points to the probability of axx All jdlack teaih leaving for Bouth Africa eariy nexr March and the tour beginning about .niu-April. Whiie this sailing dato is cousiderably earlier tlxan previously ex poeted, it was decided to approvo of; it in view of the uncertainty of 'suitatde alterixatives. ' ' V In the meantime the Bouth Afrieaii Hugby Board has advised that it hopes to se'nd New Zealand a revised aua irnproved itiuerary- whieh will ailow fo: an interval of at least a fortnight berore the lirst xnatclx. All arrangcments for the tour had so t'ar beon held up peading notilication from the shipping authorities regardxng suitable sailixxgsi At today 'a meeting •opies were ligeeived from the fcJouth African Rugby Board of correspondence between it and the slxipp'ing authorities. These disclosed that as far as couid be seen, the Dominion Monarch wou'id make her maidexx voyage to New" Zealand aftor refitting, on or about 'Beceuiber 16. It was expected that shq would leave New Zealand for Bydney, SLeT bourne, Fremantle, Durban axid ,tKe Cape, aboxxt the lirst week in March. On the basis of a run of 21 or -22, days to the Cape, the sliip wo'uld arrive' a.6ont, the end of March. . Thp sh.ippixxg authorities. could. not say at p'fes'exit wlietlier there w-as any real .prospect' -^f other suitable alternative. saiiings., 7*h0 .South African Rugby Board suggested accopting this sailing date and , tlie tour beginning possibly about ■ rnid-Apftl. While this was nv;xch earlier. normal, it would work out fairly for both sides. The Houth African seaSon began ou April 1 and dt could Oe' arranged for the All Blaeks to have ;.ii good spell after arriviug, in order, to iet fxt. V ijYi The actiug-chairman, Mr.. J. 11 . Harker,. said that, provided. the teain could have a useful spell after arriviug in South Africa, the early beginning. of the tour would be no dilferent than was . the case with tlie All Black tours 'of Ureat Britaiu. A request for a ruling froni tne Taranaki union oirtlie status of Rugby players participating in inter house inatches with ineligible piayers, was referred to the council. The Auckland union notified that, in view of the visit of the Fijian team at the end of the season, it would be unable to accept a visit from the Randwick (New South Wales) club's senio.r team. It was decided to advise' tht N.S.W. l.'nion accordingiy. • M. Corner, fonuer Auckland -and All Black half baek, was uppointed:To act as coach of the Fijian teain dufing its toui'.