Britain Taking Much Interest In N.Z. Army Rugby Teani

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 89, Issue 15, 10 October 1945, Page 4

Britain Taking Much Interest In N.Z. Army Rugby Teani

(Spec. CorresD

LONDON, Oct. 8.

The tour of the United Kingdom by the New Zealand Army Rugby team, which will begin on October 27, is causing much interest, and already sporting writers are devoting appreciable space to It. There " are two reasons foc this. First, there is the attraetioii that the name of New Zealand always has in Rugby circles here, and g«eondly, the fact that Rughy slipped into the doldrums during the war amd it is hoped that this tour wM go a lorig .way toward reviViiig Interest in it throughout the/countryThe remainder of the 26 men to play in selection trials reached England during the week-end from Italy and are now. continuing their training at Margate. " The selection of the 29 playeri to make the tour wili be made by a selection committee after a trial game on October 18, to which the English Press has been invited. It is understood that, to indicate they are not All Blacks, the players will not wear the silver fern and will have white bands on their stockings. Meanwhile the New Zealand Services team has attracted a good deal of attentipn by beginning the season with two resounding victories, the first over Wasps, 14-3, and the second over St. Mary's Hospital, 14-0. St. Mary's is regarded as one of the best teams in London, but the New Zealanders defeated them fairly comfortably, the forwards particularly playing well. The team was: J. D. Ridland, O'Hearn, J. Botting, T. Bramley, Barton, G. Geary, McCulloch, I. McPhail, H Campbell, F. Rhind, G. Henderson, D. Gunn, R. Dalton, D. Black, R. Drummond. More New Zealanders have arrived in London. They are the working party to prepare the Milestone Club for members of the Dlvislon who will shortly be visitig this country on their fortnight's leave. The party comparised 110 and travelled to London, via Milan, Switzerland, Dieppe and Newhaven. It is expected that the first leave party will arrive in about • fortnight.