RUGEY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1939, Page 15

RUGEY LEAGUE

ASSEMBLY- OF KIWIS

BR3TISH AMD FRENCH TOUR

Members of the New Zealand Rugby '.League football team to tour England 'and France assembled in Wellington today and will depart for the Old Courury by the Rangitiki this after!noon. j During the past two weeks members jex the team have undergone the.cusj tomary ruiuid of enthusiastic farewell I inactions and- presentations usually I associated, with the departure of a ; yew Zealand representative team on i a Jong tour overseas." STRENUOUS TOUR. The 19^y Kiwis are lacing a partijcuiany siranuous and arduous tour. Ihovenheiess, mere is a coniident feelling m i\c.w Zealand Rugby League circles that the Kiwis will rise to the occasion and emerge from the tour wi'cii great credit Lo themselves and Ih.e iuuna in ihis Dominion. The players are as follows: —Full- ! backs, j. kymi' (Auckland), J. Smith (Aucidand;; three-quarters, C. Davi-t-on (Camcrbury;, L. Mills (Auckland), j\, Meinnarney (Auckland), T. Chase 1 (.\uijk.aiid), J. Campbell (CanterIburjr;. A. Kay (Auckland), W. Tittle'ion (Auckland), V. Scott (Auckland); j iive-eighlhs, li. Banham (Auckland), >D. Suiomon (Auckland); half-backs, L. ! Brown (Canterbury), R- Sterling I i./iLiL-Kiand^; lOiwaiua, Rex King luauiterbury), capiain. G. Bellaney (Canter|bury; 3 J. Clark (Canterbury), G. (Beadie (South Auckland), G. Orman i(V/'est CoasU, B. Miiliken (Auckland), IP. Kii-inui (Auciuand), H. Mataira (AuckiaiHi), G. Mitchell (Auckland), !A. Lealiierbarrow (Auckland), J. JGcotes (Weliington), R. Jones (.Auckland). NO EASY MATCHES. The Kiwis will be playing against the strongest'professional cIuDS m .England, and. in addition, there will be the rigours 01 the English winter to i contend \ .h. x There will not be an jeasy match. The English itinerary ■provides ior k;8 matches, including three j Tests agamsi England, matches With i uiree county sides, and also a match (against VVaics. The. Kiwis have been |selected with an ej'e to the strenuous nature ql the tour; in particular, strong' iorwara-s have been chosen. 'The average weight oi the forwards is 14st 61b, the average weight oi the backs list JlOib, and the average weight of the team lost, it is the heaviest Rugby J league side ever to. leave New Zealand. | The first match in England is scheduled for September 2, against St. Helens, three days after the team is i due to land. There is a possibility, ! nowever, that the Rangitiki may be jjate, in which event me wew Zealand I iiugby League Council has authorised I the managers of the team to send a 'radiogram from the ship to the Bng--1 iish Rugby League requesting the ! abandonment of the match against St. I. The English portion of the tour is to conclude on December 16 with the third Test against England. The team v.'ili then leave for France, where it is proposed 10. play six or seven matches. The French tour has not yet been finalised. The managers have been given iauthoriiy immediately on their arrival in England to go into the question of the French itinerary with the English j council and the French authorities and j .inalise it. Trie team is not expected back in New Zealand until late in February. ■ ENGLISH ' ITINERARY. The itinerary for the English portion 'oi thie; tour is as follows:— ■ ' September 2~St. Helens September 7 —Hull Kingston Rovers | September 9—Dewsbury [September i3—Barrow I September 18— Warrington I September 13—Yorkshire County i September 23—Halifax ■September 25— Widnes ! September SO—First Test j October.' 4—Hunslet • - j October 7—Oldham ; October 11—Lanousnire County j October 14—Cumberland County I October 13—Huddersfield i October 21—Hull 'October 25—York i October 28—Wigan : November I—Castleford | November 4—Swinton ! November 11—Second Test ; November 15—Broughton ; November 18—Wales November 22—Bromley. November 25—Bradford December 2—Wakefield December G —Leeds December 9—Satford December 16—Third Test