Trafalgar Park from the Air

An estimated 12,000 Rugby fans from as far away as Christchurch and Wellington packed Trafalgar Park for the match. The new embankment seating was in use for a major match for the first time and tubular frames for seating were sent from Auckland.
(Photo by Geoffrey C. Wood

Several hundred people were at Nelson airport to greet the two aircraft carrying the team, despite very wintry conditions.

Mr Russell greets French manager, Mr M. Laurent, while N. Z. R. U. Liaison officer, Mr M. Ingpen, looks on.

Official interpreter, Professor J. Boyd-Wilson with Nelson Rugby president, Roy Mace.

The scene as the team leaves the terminal building through the crowd.

For a time pandemonium reigned in the foyer of Hotel Nelson

Autograph hunters were soon on the job

At civic reception, Mayor and Town Clerk, Mr W. E. McCullough, had formal introduction to Mr Laurent.

With language difficulties Professor Boyd-Wilson was kept quite busy

French captain, Francois Moncla, introduced team members to crowd at civic welcome.

The team, with official guests, on the church steps after the civic welcome

The team trained at Nelson College that afternoon and Waimea College next day. First day's training comprised mainly exercises, but special attention was paid to backing-up play.

At Waimea College more exercises, mostly of a different variety to those of previous day, prefaced training proper. Very cold conditions existed this morning, and there were many on the sidelines who would have liked to have joined in. Present at training were officers of the New Zealand Rugby Union's laws committee, who showed great interest in scrummaging practice and expressed themselves as satisfied with what they saw.

There was some solid sprinting

And some very strenuous-looking exercises

Moncla takes time off for team talk

Scrumming under scrutiny. N.Z. Union officials watching from left 1 are Messrs Ingpen, C. A. Blazey and A. C. Swan (referees)

For a time it looked as if Nelson would not live up to its sunny reputation, for on Friday, July 7, it poured. But the park was in excellent order and the rain did little damage. The big day dawned bright and sunny and a big crowd - a record one - watched Combined kick off from the northern end.

Combined forwards in top gear from the kick-off

Delany missed a penalty shot at goal, then Combined had to defend desperately as the French swarmed close to the goal line. Here an unidentified Combined player forces, as M. Celaya pounces.

It looked like a try for wing J. Dupuy. but referee A. Fleury ruled forward pass

Vanaier was astray with penalty

Then French worked lovely scissors movement that sent Dupuy across handily. Gardiner could not handle two at once.

Surgenor got Dupuy, but too late

Another French attack was only repulsed by a force-down

Wratt made surging run down sideline but was collared

Mike Delany receives attention after an injury to his throat

G. Bouguyon jumps high for ball in lineout

Combined launched an attack but like many others was stopped by Moncla (12) whose stance about second five-eighths was a deterrent to open back play by Combined.

Wratt won many lineouts for Combined and Wilson (13) and Surgenor (15) gave him valuable assistance.

Albaladejo misses with snap shot at field goal

Combined halts French movement inside its twenty-five, but ball was kicked ahead and...

Thelin just beat Dupuy to the ball

Miller is a perfect example of a divepass. Note speed with which French players have come up to tackle.

Deidrich had a run but at this juncture thought it wise to centre

Then it was Combined's turn, with McPhail scoring his second try.

Another Combined effort saw McPhail brought down inches from line

And then it was all over

On the Saturday evening the boys let their hair down at the Nelson club's dance at Stoke. Here, with S. Meyer and G. Boniface, are Betty Mace and Pauline Cooper.

Glenis Teague was with Gerard Bouguyon

Final farewells at the airport

Ian Dee, who made great friends with the team after inviting them up home, says farewell to Roland Lefevre and Jacques Bouquet.

Another big crowd was at the airport to say au revoir to a very happy, obliging and altogether nice bunch of boys

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The Nelson Photo News

No 9 : July 22, 1961

Trafalgar Park from the Air