A rugby row of long ago

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 10

A rugby row of long ago

One of the biggest controversies in New Zealand rugby during the “golden twenties” was recalled with the death this, week of Harry Nicholls, at the age of 78. “Ginger” Nicholls, as he was widely known, was the All Blacks’ half-back in the first test against the Springboks at Carisbrook in 1921. After the match, which the New Zealanders won, 13-5, Nicholls was presented with a medal for being the best back on the field. But, to the consternation of many rugby followers, particularly those from the Nicholls stronghold of Petone, Teddy Roberts, also of Wellington, was chosen as half-back for the second test and went on to captain the side in the scoreless third test. Nicholls revealed the, background story to “The Press” a few years ago. The selectors had told him that he would play ir> the first test and Roberts would take over the posia tion in the secon; the man who made the greatest impression would be chosen for the third international. Selectors used to do things like that in the olden days. After the second test, which the Springboks won, Nicholls was named as half-back for the final game in the series. But during training at Auckland a big forward called Charlie Fletcher trod on one of his feet — and the injury was painful enough to put him out of th e

“Ginger” Nicholls remained in the top group of half-backs, however, and appeared for the All Blacks in all three intercolonial tests against New South Wales in Sydney in 1922. The next year he captained the New Zealand team in the third test against New South Wales at Athletic Park. He was strongly tipped for a position in the 1924 “In* vincibles,” but lost out to Jimmy Mill and Bill Dailey. A Wellington representative between 1917 and 1926, Nicholls was a member of one of the most celebrated sporting families in the country. His brothers, Mark and “Doc,” were both All Blacks — and Mark, of course, is ‘ numbered among New Zealand's sporting heroes. Dulcie Nicholls, the only girl in the family, was the national women’s singles champion in tennis on five occasions, and also won five doubles titles, . The father, Syd, was founder of the Poneke rugby club, and played for Wellington against the New Zealand Native team in 1889.