F. T. J. French Had Notable Career

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28158, 22 December 1956, Page 5

F. T. J. French Had Notable Career

The many Rugby enthusiasts who remembered with admiration the prowess of the Canterbury and Sydenham full-back, F. T. J. French during the 1930 s, noted with pleasure his selection as a member of the special police guard for duty this week during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. - A^ ter , 13 7 ear s playing Rugby League in .England and now with three years of service behind him in the New Zea.and police force, French is again making his presence felt in Canterbury Rugby, this time as a coach. Beside coaching the police team in Christchurch this year with marked success, he hopes soon to be able to make his services available for coaching schoolboy teams when police duties allow. French, who as recently as three months ago played for the Christchurch police “Old Timers” team which beat the contemporary police team 9-8, showed some of the form which made George Nepia call him one of the three best full-backs in the world while in his prime. Notwithstanding his absence from the public eye during his exceptionally long period with League in

Britain, French is still recognised as one of the most versatile sportsmen Canterbury has produced. He first made his mark when, as a pupil of the Sydenham School, he gained schoolboy representative honours at both cricket and hockey. Later, while at the Christchurch Technical College and only 17. he became Canterbury champion at throwing the discus, the pole vault, and throwing the javelin. French was at that time also a member of the Technical College first fifteen and the school athletic champion. His early introduction to club Rugby was as a member of the first Technical Old Boys senior team, and soon after he was playing full-back for Canterbury as a member of the Sydenham club. When he left New Zealand in 1935 French not only played League for 13 years, until the age of 36. but also played professional cricket for Furness as well. Now 16 stone and one of the biggest police officers in Christchurch. French retains his interest in swimming and wrestling as well. He earlier trained under Jack Shaw at the Toe H gymnasium. and- was an early member of the Somerfield Swimming Club. That was about the time when French was playing Rugby and senior cricket for City and Suburban. His sporting versatility was well shown when he once played soccer at 10 a.m., hockey at 1 p.m.. and Rugby at 2.45 p.m. for the Technical Old Boys’ Club, all in the one day. Refereeing as well as coaching are included among French’s sporting plans for the future.