JACK BONHAM RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 59, 10 March 1932, Page 17

JACK BONHAM RETURNS.

» Y.M.C.A.'S NEW INSTRUCTOR. AN OLD WAIKATO RUGBY REP. Mr. Jack Bonham,, the new physical .director at the Auckland Y.M.C.A., has just' returned to New Zealand after seven montha spent abroad, where he was assistant physical director to the Vancouver Athletic Club, an all-round sports organisation with a membership running into thousands. He represented British Columbia against Alberta, the Canadian champions at the American Rugby game, and also played iu the annual New. Year match against Seattle. In addition he was in the Mainland (Vancouver) fifteen at English Rugby against the.'. Island (Victoria). vAt . one stage interest in Rugby—as we know it iri this country— had developed tremendously as the result of visits in successive seasons, just before the' war, By'ta'e' AH' Blacks and the Wallabies, but the American brand is rapidly ousting Rugby from popular favour, although the latter is still played in the British Columbian secondary schools, in which the American game is not permitted. ~ . Mr. Bonham took advantage of short vacations to visit various parts of the United States, going down the Pacific Coast as far as San Francisco. He was greatly struck .by the magnitude of the Y.M.C.A. institutions, which mean much more to the community life of Canada and the States than in New Zealand and Australia, perhaps due to the fact that far greater interest is taken in sport generally—not merely in what may _be regarded as the country's national pastime —and the Y.M.C.A. caters for every known game. Educated at Hamilton High School, Mr. Bonham represented Waikato (as hooker) a>t Rugby, playing at different times against Auckland and on the southern tour. The boys' and men's gymnasium classes are starting at the Auckland Y.M.C.A. forthwith.