Obituary Mr E. G. Blazey

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 20

Obituary Mr E. G. Blazey

Edward Gordon Blazey, who died in Christchurch last Friday, was involved with rugby league as a player and administrator for 65 years. A member of a family well known in New Zealand sport, particularly rugby union, Mr Blazey was made a life member of the Canterbury' Rugby League in 1973 and 10 years later was the recipient of a New Zealand Rugby League distinguished service award. Mr Blazey was a lower grade member of the Marist Old Boys Rugby Union Club when it switched to rugby league after a dispute with the Canterbury Rugby Union in 1923.

As a senior footballer Mr Blazey represented Canterbury and Otago, was fullback in a New Zealand XIII which beat the 1928 Great Britain touring team by 27-26 at the Invercargill Show Grounds, and played in South Island’s first win over North Island in 1929.

Regarded as an almost cer-

tain choice to tour Australia in 1930, Mr Blazey was denied full Kiwi honours by injury' and work commitments.

Between 1953 and 1966 Mr Blazey served on the Canterbury Rugby League board of control, and was its chairman in 1961 and 1962. A vicepresident of the league from 1966 to 1979, Mr Blazey was president between 1980 and 1982.

In 1968, Mr Blazey was president of the reformed University club, an event which ultimately led to rugby league’s widespread acceptance in Canterbury secondary schools.

Mr Blazey worked in the printing trade, and for many years covered rugby league for “The Press.”

A genial personality, Mr Blazey seldom missed a match at the Addington Show Grounds until illness restricted his attendance this season. He was aged 79.