SERVICE TO RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 12

SERVICE TO RUGBY

Mr. J. N. Millard’s Record 21 YEARS ON COMMITTEE .. Few Rugby officials can boast a longer term of continuous service in the interests of the game than .Mr. J. N. Millard, principal of the Hutt Valley High Schoo], who this year completes 21. years’ service as a member of Hie management committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. Major T. J. King, a member of lhe committee, who is at present on a visit to Australia, in applying for leave of absence, wrote as follows to the committee last uight:— "1 very much regret being absent from the final meetiug pf tlie year, and the informal social evening later ou. 1 regard this year’s informal function as particularly important, synchronising, as it does, with the completion, on tlie part of Mr. Millard, of 21 years’ service on the committee. Lots of nice things will be said about Mr. Millard that evening, and 1 am satisfied that they will all be deserved. Insofar as his services are concerned, it has very definitely been a case of quality as well as quantity. I should like to be associated most fully with the good wishes and congratulations which will undoubtedly bo extended to him.” .Mr. .Millard started his Rugby career at the Southland Boys’ High School, and showed such aptitude at tlie game that he captained'the team in 1907 aud 1908 aud led the side ou the first occasion that it succeeded iu defeating the Otago Boys’ High School. Entering Otago University, he gained a place as centre-threequarter for the first fifteen and played regularly for the team in 1909, 1910 and 1911, and gained his cap for Otago in 1911. Joining the staff of Wellington College In 1012. lie played a few games for the Wellington club's senior fifteen that year.

He acted as coach to the Wellington College first fifteen for some years. Mr. Millard was elected a member of the management: committee of the Wellington Rugby Union in 1916, and the confidence players have in him is proved by the fact that, he has been re-elected to the committee each year. ~ After Wellington’s overwhelming defeat by Hawke's Bay at Napier by 58 points to 8, in 1926, Mr. Millard was appointed sole selector of Wellington representative teams the following year, and his ability to sort out Rugby players soon brought a marked improvement in Wellington’s record which culminated in the winning of the Ranfurly .Shield in 1930, when Wellington also beat the touring British team. He is regarded as one of the soundest Rugby administrators in the Dominion and his remarks at the council table are always listened to with close attention.