Springboks’ Visit

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20255, 26 July 1937, Page 8

Springboks’ Visit

RUSSELL OUT HAMILTON’S BIG FIXTURE. THE VISITORS WELOOMED. The members .of the Combined Waikato-King Country-Thames Valley team to meet the Springboks at Rugby Park on Wednesday in the second match of the tour assembled in Hamilton this morning and after the official photograph was taken the players had a run and were then examined by a doctor. Waikato enthusiasts’ hopes of victory declined when the half-back, L. T. Russell, who played, brilliantly in the trials at Wellington, and who still stands an excellent chance for All Black selection, failed to pass the medical examination owing to a shoulder injury. This injury was received during the" trials at Wellington when Russell dived on to the hard ground to stop a forward rush. The selectors have not yet had an opportunity to make the necessary alterations but it seems certain that F. Robinson, the King Country half-back, who was picked as fullback for the combined team, will take the halfback position. The replacing of Robinson will cause some concern, as the emergency back, G. Childs, is an attacking th>ee-quarter. There is every chance that H. Swann, Thames Valley fullback or centre, will be given the position. Springboks Arrive. The Springboks arrived in Hamilton shortly after 1 p.m. to-day, and received a very warm welcome from a large number of enthusiasts, including hundreds of schoolboys. They were met on arrival by the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. R. Fow, and officials of the combined unions, being taken straight to their hotel by a bus. The visitors trained this afternoon, while the combined team also had a hard work-out. The members of the Springbok team will visit the Waitomo Caves to-morrow, while the home team's players will be given line-out practice and other light training during the day. Both teams will attend a ball In their honour this evening.

FOOTBALL QUEUE.

LONG WELLINGTON VIGIL

CODE OF ETHI-CS OBSERVED. (By Telegraph.—press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Booking for the Springboks’ matches in Wellington opened at nine o’clock this morning but it was at 10 o'clock yesterday morning that the queue began to form. Equipment was varied, overcoats, tarpaulins, 'sleeping bags, boxes, a trumpet, gramophone, sandwiches, flasks, books, boxes, etc., all being brought along lo ensure some sort of comfort and to while away the hours of day and night that lay ahead. By midnight over 300 were waiting. Most wore overcoats and stood against a wall but the more experienced were bedded down and seemed assured of some sleep. A code of waiting ethics seemed to have been commonly accepted and there were employers and employed to hold places. II was difficult to find among the earlier arrivals anyone who was not going to sell his seats. No fewer than 34 were working for a ticket agent but after the first 200 there was evidence of more keenness about the football. The rules allowed a person to leave his position for short intervals but anything over half-an-hour was not countenanced. One man even spent Saturday night waiting. It was a lone wait except for the notice of policemen. He had six hours’ relief during Sunday that he might go home to sleep but this was a special privilege. OTAGO REPRESENTATIVES. TEAM FOR NORTHERN TOUR. (By Telegraph.— Press Association ) DUNEDIN, Monday. The Otago Rugby team for the northern lour is:— • Backs: Taylor, Bolton, Mahony, Murray, Park, Churchill, D. Trevarthan, Berglian, Bathgate, Howden and Simon.

Forwards: Quaid, Laney, Murdoch McDonald, Vosailagi, Niven, Barnes, Green, Murphy, Neiper and Parkhill