RUGBY IN ENGLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 13

RUGBY IN ENGLAND

NEW ZEALAND PLAYERS ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL TEAM W. E. HENLEY NOW, CAPTAIN [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 14 W. E. Henley, New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, now taking his medical course at St. Mary's Hospital, has been chosen captain of the Rugby team, in succession to T. G. Osier. J. E. Giesen, Dannevirke, who has been prominent for several seasons in Rugby for Guy's Hospital, as well as in lawn tennisj_ will be one of the back division again this winter. This hospital back division should be one of the best in the country, consisting of P. C. Alexander (Oxford Blue and Trial Cap), C. G. Wright, and Giesen. I. G. Robin will be capn tain. Under the captaincy of B. H. Black,the old Oxford Blue and English International forward, Blackheath is looking forward to a successful season. A full fixture list is composed of 20 away games and 18 at the Rectory Field. The Morning Post states that the policy of attempting to run two sides on the same day has never been taken up whole-heartedly by the club, and it has now been abandoned. Some of the old "Extra First" fixtures have been taken over by the newly-formed Second XV., and the A team will concern itself practically entirely with public schools. Newcomers to .the first team fixture list include Swansea and the Barbarians. The Barbarians make one of their rare appearances in London at the Rectory Field on Boxing Day. The Blackheath pack, under the leadership of Black, will be as powerful as last year, such stalwarts as D. E. Pratten, L. S. Bailey, A. G. Cridlan, B. S. Downward, D. T. Kemp, G. S. Waller, T. W. Gubb, J. Pienaar, G. E. Valentine and G. V. Bland again being available. G. G. Gregory, the Bristol and England hooker, will also turn out for the club. Among the backs, F. W. Simpson may not be regularly available at scrum-half, but perhaps E. B. Pope will be able to turn out. H. Rees should again be a tower of strength at fly-half, and behind him he will have such strong runners as C. D. Aarvold, R. C. A. Brandram,' W. P. Barton, J. A. Tallent, and possibly, R. C. S. Dick, provided he does not became a regular member of a hospital side. S. T. A, Radcliffe will again be available for fullback, but McYuill, who played some fine games last year, will probably be leaving for the Manchester district. Special arrangements have been made for training by floodlight at the Rectory Field on Thursday evenings.