Getting Ready For the 'Boks

June 27 is B-Day for local Rugby. It's the date the 'Boks will be here.

Poverty Bay and East Coast are already preparing to meet, as a combined team, their strongest challenge since the Springboks' last visit in 1937.

These pictures show some of the P.B. rep. training squad going through their paces recently on the Oval.

They know selection may depend on fitness.

Backs' coach Frank Martin with half-backs Johnny Parker and Jimmy Duncan

Husky Preston and W. Atkins lead a dribbling rush

The squad, chosen by a panel of three, has a balance of youth and experience from which to select a team.

Besides the visit of the 'Boks, keen interest will be taken in Poverty Bay's bid to wrest the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury on September 29.

Matches in Gisborne against Wellington and North Auckland touring teams are also awaited eagerly by the fans.

Duncan in full flight

Coach Ken Clark gives some advice to the forwards.

Sonny Rutene, with Harry Westrupp outside him, prepares to take Duncan's pass

He has played every Rugby country in the world except South Africa.

Bagley has come out of retirement to play for Tauwhare, in the East Coast union.

He may lock with White in the combined P.B.-E.C. side, but lack of time to train could prevent him from meeting the 'Boks in a test match.

Veteran lock forward R. A. ("Tiny") White, pictured left, is the district's most likely prospect for All Black honours this year.

Unknown factor is Keith Bagley , also a look in the All Black tour of Britain.

Barry Preston (centre)

Jimmy Duncan (half-back)

"Wog" Atkins (flank forward)

John Penny (winger)

Peter Blair (flank forward)

Sonny Rutene (five-eighth)

Melvyn Wooster (lock)

Johnny Parker (half-back)

John Scammell (winger)

Bill Maxwell (No. 8 forward)

Husky Preston (prop forward)

Toko Riki (prop)

Harry Westrupp (centre)

Jumbo Kingi (prop)

Kenny Williams (fullback)

Bill Totoro (lock)

Mick Cossey (winger)

Bob Henderson (hooker)

Paul Cowan (fullback)

Responsibility for choosing the Bay team rests with Ken Clark, Charlie Gaukrodger and Frank Martin, pictured above. Ken, a bank manager, has been sole selector and coach of Eastern. Southland's champion sub-union. He has played as hooker or flanker in Taranaki, Wellington and Canterbury. Charlie, a Whatatutu farmer, has been a P.B. representative as a five-eighth. Frank, wool manager of a stock firm, was captain of Mt Albert Grammar first fifteen, Auckland, as a centre. He coached a divisional team in the Middle East and later coached Suburbs' senior team, Auckland.

Alan Rowlands (prop)

Bob Preston (five-eighth)

Chick McHugh (five-eighth)

Rep. squad training on Rugby Park.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 23 : May 31, 1956

Getting Ready For the 'Boks