Rugby Football.

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 992, 9 July 1919, Page 27

Rugby Football.

Passed away at Aucklana last week, Archibald Edgar D'Arcy, who was well-known in business and insurance circles in New Zealand and Australia. Archie D'Arcy was also in his younger days—he was 49 when he died —a prominent Rugby footballer and amateur athlete. He was born in Masterfcon and was a leading member of the Rugby team in the Wairarapa town when they considered they had a fifteen which was the best in New Zealand. They felt so sure of themselves that they undertook a trip to the South "Island in 1892.. Merivale <Joliristicih>ur"cjh) w'er'e first m,ejt, and the Masterfcon fellows romped over the Canterbury champions by 21 points to nil. The famous Alhambra team of Dunedin made no race of the Wairarapa boys, defeating them by 18 points to 4. Achie D'Arcy was a member of the New 'Zealand team that toured Australia in 1893 and also was a Domin-' ion representative the following year. He was a fine threequarter and fullback, and made many friends in his playing days. He was a great sprinter on the flat and a good man over hurdles. Many years ago he was transferred to Sydney to act as manager of the New South Wales branch of the NewZealand Insurance Company, a position which he held until a severe nervous breakdown, which he suffered last September, caused him to come to • New* Zealand to recruit his health. In Sydney he came into prominence as a golfer winning many important trophies and for some years he was captain of the Australian Golf Club. He was also a very .keen sportsman, and came to the Dominion frequently on fishing and shooting trips. * * * * As far as I can gather, the only twio of the original "All Blacks" still playing the game are Alex McDonald (in' Dunedin) and Frank Gasgow (at a small Taranaki town called Ohura). Mick Naughton, the old-time Wellington , representative cricketer, is the astute and energetic secretary of the New Zealand Football control in England. This body has been responsible for getting together the team that it now on its way to South Africa. The intention is tcs play a certain number of matches in Sydney after the South African tour is finished. Before finally disbanding a series of games' will be played against interprovincial teams in New Zealand. W. Randell, the stocky and hardworking forward in the University team, ds the son of an old-time Ponekeite of the same name. Mr Randell, who is a master saddiler in Palmerston North these days, wore the red-and-black jersey in*the middle eighties— the very early days of the Poneke Club—and even now takes a lot of interest in the doings of his old club.