Many Players Have Worn Jerseys Of Both Unions

Southland Times, Issue 23888, 5 August 1939, Page 13

Many Players Have Worn Jerseys Of Both Unions

In the number of players who have worn the jerseys of two provinces Southland and Otago could probably claim a record in New Zealand Rugby. Many players have played for more than one province and a good number have played for three and four, but it is safe to say that nowhere else in New , i Zealand has such a big number of players worn tire representative jerseys of sister provinces as have players of Otago and Southland. As far as can be ascertained about 30 players have won the distinction. Bob Galbraith, donor of the Galbraith Shield competed for annually by . the senior teams of Invercargill, was the first. He represented Otago as a I member of the Invercargill Club in 1882, 1883 and 1884 (there was no > Southland Rugby Union in those days), . and he played for Southland in 1888 E and 1889. It is interesting to recall here that i three other Invercargill club players

also played for Otago in those early years. They were Harry (now Sir Henry) Braddon, (a brother-in-law of Eustace Russell, who played for Southland in 1895), Jim O’Donnell (now living in Sydney) and P. Sharpe. After Galbraith, Braddon, O’Donnell and Sharpe there came Jack Hope and Peter Anderson of the older brigade of players who played for both Otago and Southland. Jack Hope, still hale and hearty in Dunedin, first played for Otago in 1886. He played for Southland in 1888 and returning to Dunedin that season also played for Otago. Peter Anderson was one of the old

Taieri forwards who came to Southland after playing for Otago. _ He linked up with Star and until his death a few years ago was one of the regular attenders at Rugby Park. The others who played for both provinces are well known, more or less, to the younger generation of footballers. They include Alf Mitchell, a Southland selector and member of the Southland Rugby Union until two years ago; Fred Ivimey, Jim Holmes, a champion sprinter who was a member of the Southland team which won the shield in 1920; Geoff Fortune, Clarrie St. George, Jock Richardson, All Black captain and secretary of the Southland Rugby Union for several years; Pat Burt, Charlie Diack, coach of the Southland team in 1937 and 1938 and now living in Napier; “Tubby” Holden, All Black half-back in 1928; Jack Todd, Oliver Cheyne, Nicol Macdonald, one of the strongest-running three-quarters to represent Southland; Colin Nicholson, Dick Johnston, one of five school teachers who were members of the 1927 Southland team; L. G. Townsend, brother of Frank, a member of the Eastern Sub-Union; Ted Stewart, All Black wing three-quarters; Tom Carter, Don Oliver, 1930 All Black wing; Dick Webb, coach of today’s Southland team; Jim Hamilton, “Brushy” Mitchell, Mat Hamilton and Ray Mahony and Charlie Saxton, of today’s team. When Nelson Irwin plays for Otago today he will make another.

There probably are others. It is an imposing list and is just another instance of the close association of the provinces. In today’s game two former Otago representatives will be playing for Southland (Saxton and Mahony) and two former Southland players will be playing for Otago (Mitchell and Irwin).