FIVE-EIGHTHS AS CAPTAINS

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 20

FIVE-EIGHTHS AS CAPTAINS

J. L. GRIFFITHS OF WELLINGTON

J. L. Griffiths, appointed captain of the New Zealand Rugby team against the Australian team now in the Dominion, in succession to J. E. Manchester, who was not available, is the second five-eighth to captain an All Black side against Australia in New Zealand. W. A. Strang, South Canterbury five-eighth, was captain of New Zealand in the one Test played against the Australian team that toured the Dominion in 1931. When the second Australian team came over in 1913 A. McDonald, a forward, then of Otago, captained the All Blacks in the first lest. J. O’Leary (Auckland full-back), was captain in the second and third Tests, played after the New Zealand team for California had left. The first Australian team to visit this country, in 1905, played only one Test, and in that J. Spencer, Wellington forward, was New Zealand’s captain. Griffiths is a son of the late Mr A. J. Griffiths, Poneke Club forward who represented Wellington 32 years ago, and who was later an administrator in the game and a selector of New Zealand teams. New Zealand’s new captain leads the Poneke Club’s first fifteen in Wellington Rugby. He has been a Wellington representative from, and including, 1931, and has represented New Zealand in Australia and in Great Britain and Ireland.