British Rugby Team Lands in Wellington

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 971, 14 May 1930, Page 1

British Rugby Team Lands in Wellington

WARMLY WELCOMED “YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE” Special to THE SUE WELLINGTON, Today. Wearing heavy overcoats as protection against the keen Wellington wind, the British footballers landed by the tug Janie Seddon, after two hours' delay in completing the formalities aboard the Rangitata. One’s first impression of the immaculate visitors is their youth and fresh, almost boyish appearance. Few of them have the mature appearance of the New Zealand Rugby men. “W E had a magnificent trip.” said one of them, “but will be glad to find our land-legs again.’’ One member of the team was limping slightly, but the manager reported all fit and well, no accidents having marred the necessarily restricted training operations conducted aboard ship. A welcome was tendered the visitors in the harbour shed, a large and cordial crowd giving them a first taste of New Zealand Rugby enthusiasm. Mr. James Baxter, the maifager, and P. D. Prentice, the captain, replied to speeches by Dr. Adams, Dr. MeEvedy and Mr. S. S. Dean. Prentice, particularly, who was obviously diffident in facing his first task as cap-

tain, received encouraging cheers from the crowd. At first glance the outstanding members physically, are Parker, who bears a striking facial resemblance to Maurice Brownlie, and Beamish, who is a magnificent kpecimen built like a heavy-weight boxer and with something distinctly like a cauliflower ear as a souvenir and his association with the amateur ring. Many of the team wore plus fours and carried golfing outfits.