Rovers rugby team head off on American tour

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 372, 5 February 1991, Page 5

Rovers rugby team head off on American tour

The Ruapehu Rovers social rugby team leave for an overseas tour this Thursday, headed first for Los Angeles. The 31 day trip is the culmination of three years' work by the 37 members of the Rovers. Destinations on their tour, and games to be

played, include Dallas, Tucson, Florida, Jackson, New Orleans, Las Vegas. The team has been training weekly since December under coach John Transom with help from Todd Barrell and Bruce Hansen. The latter two will not ■J touring with the

Rovers. "The team is as keen as their predecessors and very anxious to do well being fully aware that the games will be very tough as the American Clubs are at the peak of their season," said a spokesman. The first game is against the Dallas Harlequins who are the Texas and Western Union Champions and their first five eight is in the American World Cup Squad. This game will be without a doubt the toughiest they will face although E1 paso, the Wildcats, Jackson, Las

Vegas and San Luis Obispo are all looking forward to hosting the Rover tour. The Rovers have played all but Las Vegas before with the Wildcats and San Luis Obispo having toured NZ in 1987 and 1989 respectively. The Ruapehu Rovers will play two games at each venue with a Senior A team and a over 30 team. There are three referees touring with the Rovers and have club matches arranged for them to control. The full tour party is;

Alan Thomas (Tour Manager, Referee) Dave Littlejohn (President, vice Tour Manager) Robert Cleaver (Team Manager) Rex Noble (Gear Manager) John Transom (Coach) Rangi Bristol (Referee) Warwick Floyd (Referee) Mrs Jan Thomas and Mrs Tracy Ennis (Medics) and the full list of players are Ross Brimicombe, Ray Brown, Graham Bullock, Bernard Coogan, Micheal Downard, James Ennis, Brent Flewkes, Hugh Geraghty, Lou Harnett, Barney Inwood, Lance Jones, Craig

Karatau, John Kennedy (Tour Captain) Bruce Maho.Darren Meadows, Tim Meadows, Rod McCaughan, Dean Noble, Kevin O'Brien (Vice Tour Captain) Tim O'Callaghen, Tony Pudney, Peter Shaw, Alister Smith, Whai Taite, Paul Tomlinson, Frank Tong, Mike Wills and Brett Pedersen. To raise the necessary finance the side has dagged in excess of 180,000 sheep and picked up 40000 bales of hay as well as other forms of casual work. Micheal Downard is preseqtly playing rugby

in Canada and Peter Shaw in England* and both will join the side in Los Angeles. Life member Colin Cook prepared the Interary and arranged the fixtures. Billeting is arranged at Dallas, E1 paso, Tucsun, Jackson and San Luis Obisp with Hotels at all the other cities. As a direct benefit over $6000 has been raised for promotion of junior rugby over the next 3 years. The main beneficiaries are Midget Rugby and the Rangitikei Primary School Representatives.