ALL BLACK PLAYER DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 6

ALL BLACK PLAYER DEAD

INJURED DURING A MATCH

B. F. PALMER MEETS SUDDEN END FINE RECORD IN RUGBY GAME. COLLISION WITH OPPONENT. By Telegraph.—Preen Association. Auckland, Last Night. The death occurred this morning of B. F. Palmer, All Black Rugby forward, who sustained a severe head injury when playino- for Otahuhu against University yesterday. Palmer was charging down towards an opponent with the ball and dived at the latter just as he passed the ball.. Palmer’s head struck bis opponent’s hip. It was at once seen that Palmer was In a serious condition and he was hurried to hospital, but died without regaining consciousness. An examination at the hospital failed to reveal any sign of a knock or bruise on the head, and it is understood the cause of death was internal haemorrhage due to the .breaking of a blood vessel. Palmer was a member of the Ponsonby senior team from 1925 to 1931. This year he had been playing for Otahuhu on account of a change of residence. He had represented Auckland every year since 1925. He played for the North Island in 1928 end 1932, represented New Zealand in all three tests against New South Wales in 1928 and was a member of the AU Black team which touted Australia in 1929 and again this {ear, when he earned the reputation of eing one of the finest Rookers the Dominion has ever sent across the Tasman. Paltrier was 28 years of ago and resided with his mother at Otahuhu. He was an exceedingly popular figure on the playing fields of Auckland and had been selected to play against Taranaki at Eden Park next Saturday. V. C. Butler, a University player, was also teken to hospital suffering from concussion which he sustained in the closing stages of the same game, but he was out of danger to-day. The game was a particularly clean and bright one, University gaining the victory with two tries scored in as many minutes at the end of the game.

(POPULARITY OF “CHUCKLES”

WIDELY KNOWN RUGBY PLAYER. * “Probably there has been no more popular prominent Rugby player in.’New Zealand during the past few years, both on and off the field, than 'Bert IF. (Palmer, affectionately known throughout the length and (breadth of Ne Zealand and to Rugby followers at Sydney and Brisbane as ‘Chuckles,’” said Mr. James McLeod, chairman of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union last night. “This cheerful sobriquet most aptly described him whose, smiling, open countenance was. an invitation to cordial friendship with all with whom he came in contact. •‘A successful farmer in the Manurewa district, Palmer's keenness for football was such that for years he regularly journeyed to Auckland for the week-night practices of. his club after his day’s work, and many a time ‘jogged’ many miles home afterwards to°perf&ct his condition. On the field Ihe was a tireless worker and an expert hooker, yet always in the van of open play. “No more chivalrous player ever donned a. jersey, and it can truly be said of ‘Chuckles’ that 'no matter how strenuous the -play he never in all his career earned the enmity of an opponent. Socially he was extremely popular; on tour no sing-song was complete without his presence; he loved to dance and was always, in demand, as a. partner. Quiet and unassuming to a degree, 'he represented all that was best in young New Zealand, and the news of his tragic passing will to-day bring sadness to his countless football chums and admirers. Our national game is very much the poorer by his untimely death, but richer in public esteem 'by his having lived and ‘played the game.’ Vale! Chuckles.”