RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL BLACKS TO LEAVE ON TOUR EARLY IN MARCH

Grey River Argus, 31 August 1948, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL ALL BLACKS TO LEAVE ON TOUR EARLY IN MARCH

p.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 30 Information concerning sailings, received by the executive or the New Zealand Rugby Union to-day points to the probability or tne Ail BlacK team leaving for Soulli Africa, early nex. iviarcn, and tne tour beginning about mid-April. While this sailing date is consideraoly earlier than previously expected, it was decided to approve of it in view of the uncertainty ot suitable alternatives. . In the meantime, the South African Rugby Board has advised that it hopes to send to New Zealand a revised and improved itinerary, wnlcii will allow, for an interval of at least a. fortnight before the first match. All arrangement's for the tour had so far been held up pending notification from the shipping authorities regarding suitable sailings. At to-day's meeting, copies were received from the South Airican Rugby Board, of correspondence between n and tho shipping authorities. These disclosed that, as far as could be seen, the Dominion Monarch would make her maiden voyage to New Zealand after refitting on or about December 16. It was expected that she would leave New Zealand for Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Durban and The Cape about the first week in March. On the basis of a run of 21 or 22 days to the Cape, the ship would arrive about the end of March. The shipping authorities could not say, at present, whether there was any real prospect oi other suitable alternative sailings. „ , . The South African Rugby Board suggested accepting this sailing date, the tour beginning possibly about midApril. While this was much earlier than normal it would work out fairly for both sides. The South African season began on April 1, and it could oe arranged for the All Blacks to have a good spell after arriving, in order to get fit. The acting chairman, Mr J. H. Parker, said that providing the team could have a useful spell after arriving in South Africa, the early beginning of the tour would be no different than was the case with the All Black tours of Great Britain. A request for a ruling from the Taranaki Union on the status of rugby players participating in interhouse matches, with ineligible players 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 (N.S.W.) Club’s senior team. It was decided td advise the N.S.W. Union accordingly. ■ ' Mr M. Corner, the former Auckland All Black half-back, was appointed to act as coach of the Fijian team dur* ing its tour

Ray O’Callaghan t)ut For Season WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. Two of the star members of the Wellington representative Rugby team, D. J. Lvons and T. R. O’Callaghan, are out for the season with broken bones. Both are ankle injuries approximatelv in the same place. O’Callaghan, who retired ?iurt early in the representative match at Auckland on Saturday, returned with his foot in plaster, and Lyons, whose injury is believed to date bacn to the final club match of the season, will enter the Waikato Hospital to-day.