EON KING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1937, Page 4

EON KING

RETIRING FROM FOOTBALL. Westland’s crack forward, R. 11. King', New Zealand Rugby captain, anj one df the best forwards the Dominion has produced in recent years, announced on Saturday, his retirement from big football alter the third test

match against South. Africa at Ancle, land this week. King has recently been given the opportunity for advancement in his work a s an employee of the electrical division of the Public Works De-nartme-it, and ho is determined that the demands of representative and international football slnl! not interiere with his work.

King has been transferred to Christchurch from Hokitika for special training, and it is expected that he will later return to the. West Coast a s « member of the electrical staff necessary for the supervision of the Lake Coleridge power supply on the Coast. , A New Zealand representative for four years, King has toured Australia and Great Britain with the All Blacks, and in the 1 9.‘k> touring side he established himself as the Dominion’s best all-round forward. For much longer, a stalwart captain of the Excelsior Football Club, Hokitika, he has been a tower of strength to West Coast Rugby. “Ron” left for the north on Saturday evening to go into training at Auckland for the third test. Rugby enthusiasts throughout New Zealand will wish him ; access both in this match and in the career for which he is giving up a sport which means a great deal to him. He will retire from the game with the knowledge that lie has earned every honour tin game has to give, and that the greatest honour of all. captaincy of the All Blacks, was well deserved.