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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 2; No. 6 April 26, 1939

Rugby

Rugby

The most powerful sports club in the College, the Rugby Club, will this season have the satisfaction of having its best men playing senior football from the outset. By many other football followers in Wellington, too, the change will be welcomed, for it is not so many years ago that the Varsity side was the most colourful fifteen in local Rugby.

A decade ago University fielded such backs as F. Noble Adams, J. D. Mackay, F. S. Ransom, R. H. C. Mackenzie, E. T. C. Leys and J. H. Ruru. Mackay, Mackenzie and Leys gained All Black honours, and Ruru, a brilliant player who met an untimely death, was a Maori All Black. Then, too, there were such forwards as P. Martin Smith, J. Platta Mills, O'Regan, Blacker, Burns, Diederich, and Wens.

Last season there was much satisfaction when Burke, McNicol and Eastwood represented Wellington, but in 1929 no fewer than ten V.U.C. men played for the province. Going further back, we find that in 1922 eleven Varsity footballers gained the selector's nod. The previous year a V.U.C. footballer. G. G. Aitken, had captained the All Blacks against South Africa.

But 1928 was probably the Club's greatest year, for the team was studded with talent and the senior championship was won for the first time. This feat was repeated in 1929, but in 1930 we occupied bottom position. Three years later came relegation to the second division of the Senior A grade, and we have been struggling to regain senior status over since. Now we are again to start the season with a team in the top grade, and all Varsity sportsmen wish the players well.

—L.B.S.