ANOTHER RETIREMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 7

ANOTHER RETIREMENT

ALL-BLACK G. F. HART 39 PROVINCIAL GAMES After playing in provincial representative Rugby for nine seasons and in New Zealand representative teams for six seasons, 0. F. Hart, Canterbury and New Zealand wing three-quarter, announced his permanent retirement from the game at the finish of the match against Australia at Lancaster Park last Saturday. Hart has represented Canterbury ou 39 occasions in all. lie began playing Rugby at the Elmwood School in 1920, being tried first of all in the scrum and later .at centre three-quarter, hi his second year at Waitaki Boys' High School (1924) he played for the second fifteen at second live-eighth, and in the following year played for the first fifteen on the wing. la 1926 ho joined the Christcluirch Club, and two seasons later was chosen for the Canterbury team. He reached his best in 1930, having grown heavier and increased his speed. Against the British team in 1930 Hart played in the four tests, and was cliosSn for the All Blacks again in 1931, 1932. and 1934. On the British tour of the All Blacks in 1935 he played in 19 matches, including three tests, and scored in all 33 points for the side. This, year he played in the two tests against Australia and also represented Canterbury. Hart is 2.7 yeans of age, and feels that ho has reached the age when, apart from other considerations, it is time for him to retire. Of recent years football has made heavy demands on his time, and as his occupation now takes him away from Christcluirch a good deal he cannot spare the time. ll<i stated that there was no question of his retirement not being permanent. He has definitely finished with Rugby as a player, and he would not consider coining back to it for the Springboks' tour next year if he wore approached to do so. In view of that tour alone his retirement is a heavy loss to New Zealand and Canterbury, both in ability, and sportsmanship. f