AS "ALL BLACK" STAR

Evening Star, Issue 16196, 18 August 1916, Page 3

AS "ALL BLACK" STAR

NOW FARMING" IX U.S. AMERICA'S GREATI-ST FORWARD RETIRES. _The prowess of Now- Zealand in the world or football is fully recognised throughout America, ihe visit of the All Rbicks and oilier Antipodean Rugbv bavin" proved beyond the realms "of doubt that the apKrcA-atjon from the land of the Maori has m-xejr boon equalled in (be United States in every branch of the handling rode. The • Tesient states of America were so captivated by the remarkable exploits on the held of football by Jim Wyiie, of Auckland, who was a famous forward included in the All Black team that visited California, that they persuaded him to remain in ihe West. Jim, wuo ever si-ic-o has been known as Chief," enrolled himself at ihe. Leland Stanford University ,ii Palo Alio, near San Francisco, and his inclusion in the Cardinal Rugby leam always sijniifiod victory. When he withdrew from the great American college lie was intensely anxious to join the New Zealand Expeditienarv Forces and hurry to the front, but an" injury to the knee sustained \:\ an international g.-uue prevented his passing the doctor. Wyl'ie chafed considerably under this unfortunate setback, and although he again made aranjrenients to leave San Franci-co for Auckland'the injury to his limb increased, and he was compelled to abandon bis desire to participate in the war. Twice the burly New Zealander told our San Francisco correspondent that the news of many of his old ni'ates having fallen en the battlefield impelled him to make further efforts to Ret to the front, but. again difficulties arose, and he was forced to slav

.!> California. Jim was lost sight of in San Francisco for a couple of mouths after he found he was unable to accompany Rev. Edward Jl'uJlincur to Auckland, but now conies ilie announcement that the tendons of ihe knee injured in the international game are. so vrenk; and unreliable that Wylic will never again make a drop-kick or one of the swerving runs which pained him fame both in Nov- Zealand and America. He has charge of the ranch of W. A. Howard at Tracy, Home 40 miles from San Francisco, and, according to ihe owner of the property, lie is proving as clever at. farming; as he. was at football.

Several appreciations have apnearcd in the public prints of the West, n'd one which might be quoted should prove of interest io Iris hosts of friends in the Dominion of New Zealand. It is in the following terms: " YVylie seems to have dropped on his feet -midst the cows and chickens, and his ambitions to be an engineer have forsaken 'aim. Wylie was undoubtedly one of the greatest Rugby players who ever lived. He was among the. very first and few men who ever achieved international honors in both New Zealand and Australian colors. He \7a.3 one of the three greatest forwards in the All Blank team that visited California. Xo player ever had in a more supreme degree, the quality of being always on the ball. How much this was the case was proved by a set of photographic snapshots of the game between the All Blacks and 'he American teams. Wylie is the only player who annears in every picture. It was impossible 'o depict ihe ball in action without including the omnipresent 'Rig Chief too. His example and hints have done much to make Stanford University Kugby forward play what. it. is to-day. Wylie was immensely popular at Stanford, and men from the 'bit; farm' of all sorts, from the rugger initial man and track star to the lesser-known who shines at study, are always dropping in to say 'How do?' to the .fiig Chief. If it were rot that Wylie is keen about his work the. Tracy ranch would be more like a fraternity titan a farm, according to one recently from ihat quarter. Recent advices from New Zealand indicate that the war has wrought some, extraordinary changes in football in the tight, little islands of the Southern Seas. No player over 21 years of age-is permitted to play the game. This is because the authorities consider that a man strong euotfgh t'. I-, in the Rugby field ought to be .n-ii/.:>g :.- "-0 'big show' against the enemy. Ft .•- .','f- --trior nlayers are now in repre- ... mil alive iooiuHn. the men wlio amarc l California crowds with their skill and speed are now dead."