RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 September 1934, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CHANGES IN WELLINGTON TOURING TEAM (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day Consequent upon the death of J. Euru at Rotorua last week-end IT. T. Lilburne (Hutt) has been chosen to iill the vacancy among the backs in the Wellington representative team for the South Island tour. Lilburne was unavailable originally for the trip. Peck (Hutt) also notified that lie was unable to accompany the Wellington team south, and his place has been filled by Donnelly, a Wellington club forward. THE LATE JACK RURU The late Jack 11. Euru was a popular figure on and off the field of play in Wellington, and news of his death with such tragic suddenness comes as a great shock. For some years he has been a student at Victoria University College, where he was highly respected as a worthy representative of the Maori race, having an unassuming way with him which made a very strong appeal. It was the same in his career as a Rugby footballer, cut short at a time when this young player, at 22 years of age, was reaching the top of his form. It was while still a student at Te Ante College in 1929 that Kuru was chosen as a Hawkes Bay Rugby representative, and the promise he showed then was being fulfilled in Wellington this season, this fine young player having been one of the outstanding backs in club football (playing for Victoria College) and having done well in the representative matches for which he was chosen, though in two of them he was affected by injuries. His play as a back was brilliant at times, and his future as a Rugby representative looked very bright. He had played with the Maori representatives against the British team and had also been a New Zealand University representative, having gone on a tour to Australia. He had been chosen as a member of the Wellington Rugby team for the southern tour to be commenced this week, and he was also regarded as certain of being selected as a member of the Maori touring team had he been available. By his death Rugby football has lost a fine sportsman and a dashing player. A son of Mr ITenare Kuril, of Gisborne, 'bp was born at Te Tvaraka, Gisborne, in 1911. He was a student at Te Ante College for some years before coining to Wellington to continue his education. His father, six sisters and two'brothers will have the sympathy of a very wide circle of friends in their sad loss.