FORMER ALL BLACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23094, 20 July 1938, Page 15

FORMER ALL BLACK

I HOLIDAY FROM MELBOURNE j PRAISE FOR AUCKLAND CITY I A former New Zealand Rugby player, I Mr. R. J. Cooke, arrived in Auckland | on holiday by 'the Wanganella from Sydney yesterday after an absence of 2u years from Now Zealand. He has been in business in Melbourne since ];)];!. Mr. Cooke, who was an outstanding forward, considers that the best foundation for health is a keen interest in sport. Besides being a member of the 3903 All Blacks which toured .Australia, Mr. Cooke bad an imposing record in provincial football. Between 3899 and 190-"? he represented Canterbury on 2-1 occasions, and in 1902 and the following year played fo" the South Island against the Xorth. Rugby was not the only sport in which he was prominent as ho is almost as well known in boxing circles, having referred amateur championships in Christehnrch, Timaru and Dunedin from 190.5 to 1907. He also distinguished himself at cycling. He finished fourth in tho 1899 New Zealand Wheel Race and won every event on the programme at two other meetings. Mr. Cooke said Rugby in Melbourne was improving and was also gaining a. greater hold. The game drew splendid crowds, lie said. .Mr. Cooke is a brother of Mr. Alfred Cooke, who was an All Black in 1894. The last time Mr. Cooke was in Auckland was in 1903, after the All Blacks had returned from Australia. " [ thought it was a, wonderful town then, but, viewed from the boat this morning, it seems to have grown tremendously. There is no doubt of the magnificence of Auckland's harbour. Fn Melbourne there is no harbour to boast of." After travelling through Rotorua, Napier and Wellington, Mr. Cooke I hopes to visit his home town. Christchurch. before leaving on his return, to Australia at the beginning of August.