23 July 1999 Lincoln University Students Make Their Mark in Top Rugby

A new era of prominence is emerging for Lincoln University rugby as a batch of players re-establish a connection with the game at the highest levels.

"Who knows, we may once more match the glory days of the past when Lincoln was renowned for its strong student representation in top provincial and national teams," says rugby spokesman Mike Morley-Bunker. (Wilson Whineray and Kel Tremaine are just two of the legendary names in Lincoln's rugby past.)

Today the leading Lincoln name is Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management student Scott Robertson, who made his debut for the All Blacks in last year's Tri-Nations series and has continued to be under consideration in John Hart's selections.

Also making a name for himself at the highest level is tighthead prop Greg Somerville, who played for New Zealand A against the Australian Barbarians at Whangarei on Sunday.

Although flanker Scott Robertson who played in the final Bledisloe Cup test last year was not part of Saturday's opening Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park, four Lincoln University students were in the team for the curtain raiser, New Zealand Universities vs Australian Universities. They were hooker Andrew Black, first five-eighth Derek Maisey, prop (bench) Kent Anderson, and hooker (bench) Sefton Alexander.

Black is a former NZ Universities representative to Japan and Lincoln players will have a chance to test themselves against a Japanese side early next month when a visiting rugby team from Kyoto Industrial University is in Christchurch. The team will play the Merlins and other Canterbury sides.

The Community Diary is produced by the Strategic Communications Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand