Graham Playing His Last Game

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31027, 5 April 1966, Page 19

Graham Playing His Last Game

D. J. Graham, one of the finest loose forwards to have played for the All Blacks in recent years, will make his last appearance on Lancaster Park when he plays for the Canterbury University invitation XV against Doshisha University on Easter Monday.

During his first-class Rugby career, which began in Auckland in 1957, Graham has represented New Zealand against every major Rugby playing country and this game against a Japanese side will be some recompense after missing the 1957 tour of Japan by a New Zealand Colts side through a serious injury.

Five All Blacks, Graham, W. M. Birtwistle, R. C. Moreton, D. A. Arnold and J. N. Creighton have been included in the invitation team which has a nice balance between brilliant attacking backs and forwards who probably will not outweigh the Japanese players. A back-line which includes Birtwistle, Arnold, Moreton, the polished full-back, D. C. Leary, a former Canterbury wing, B. M. Weenink and two promising backs, B. McLean and R. Somerville, should produce some superb Rugby when matched against the brilliant unorthodoxy of the Japanese players. To add to Graham, the invitation XV has included T. H. Moynihan, a prominent Canterbury forward of the same

era as Graham; C. R. Hockley, E. Veal and J. N. Creighton, who often have been the Canterbury front row; P. Ryan, youthful - lock from South Canterbury, and K. Tucker, a vigorous Sydenham player. The team is;

Leary; Birtwistle, Moreton Weenink; Arnold, McLean; Som erville; Moynihan: Graham Ryan (South Canterbury) Tucker, L. ■B. O’Reilly; Veal Creighton, Hockiey.