Three American Boys In Club Rugby Teams

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29859, 27 June 1962, Page 11

Three American Boys In Club Rugby Teams

p’EW countries can match x New Zealand’s enthusiasm for Rugby Union. It would hardly be surprising then; that if a family from overseas—say from the United Stateis—was deposited in New Zealand at the start of the winter, if it were caught with the New Zealand Rugby fever. Indeed, such has been the case with the Forbes family, of the United States, which has recently been transferred from Puerto Rico, and is now living in Christchurch. Mir Forbes and his family have been assigned to a three-year spell in New Zealand. They have already caught the “Rugby bug.” The three Forbes boys, David, John and Robbie, play for Bumside school teams during the week, and for Burnside dub teams on Saturday mornings. They have an avid supporter in Mr Forbes. David, the oldest at 11 years, is captain of the Burnside under 6st 71b team.

He is a second five-eighths. John is a flanker for the Burnside under sst 71b team, and Robbie plays prop for the Burnside under sst team. This is the first year that the boys have been able to concerrtrale on sport, for sporting activities do not normally begin in America unitil the age of 15 or 16. They are all keen swimmers, however, and have played baseball. The;; also dabbled with cricket while the family was in India. But Rugby appears to be their first love. They

followed the recent AU Black tour of Australia with great interest, and were able to name all the All Blacks who played in the AucklandWellington match last weekend. Mrs Forbes is no different from any New Zealand mother. She thinks Rugby is a bloodthirsty game. But she does realise that if the boys are happy playing it, she just has to force her fears into the background. In this, she is on common ground with many New Zealand women.