RUGBY FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OPENING DAY ATTRACTIONS. All teams are In active preparation for the opening of the season on Saturday, and players promise to be in better form for the initial games than has been the case for many years past. Should the present summer temperature hold up till then players will need to be in the best of condition to see a fast game out The senior programme, which includes Grammar v. Graf ton, Marists v. College Rifles, and Poneonby v. University, is a specially attractive one, and there is considerable interest In the draw for grounds which will be made at the executive meeting. to-morrow night. The grounds available for senior games are Eden Part, Victoria Park and North Shore. Some idea of the keenness of the players may be gathered from the ' fact that Vie. Budeley, of Grammar Old Boys, cut short his trip with the cricket team in Fiji and caught the Tofua in order to be back for the first football game. He landed back in Auckland this morning. It was considered by the team rather necessary that he should be on hand for the game, as Karl Ifwersen is not expected to be able to turn out for the side for a week or- two on account of indifferent health. Special interest is being taken in the first appearance of King's Old Boys as seniors, for the reason that a number of judges have picked this combination to be one of the crack club teams of the city before long, and they are likely to get a severe try-out for a start in meeting North Shore, who are reported to have considerably recruited their side, and to be much ahead of last year's standard. Secretaries of clubs should note that there will be no publication of the "Star" on Friday (Anzac Day), and that teams for Saturday will be published on Thursday, for which purpose they must be in this