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The Spike Golden Jubilee Number May 1949

[introduction]

The highest honour in sport is to become an International, and although the numbers who gain this honour are relatively few, Victoria University College has had an impressive list of sportsmen who have become Internationals.

In Rugby, several members of the University Club have gained International status. In 1921 G. G. Aitken captained New Zealand in the first two Tests against South Africa, whilst S. K. Siddells represented New Zealand in the third Test played against the same team in the mud at Athletic Park. G. G. Aitken gained further honours when, on being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, he went to Oxford University; and, whilst in Great Britain, he represented Scotland against England in 1923-24 and 1924-25, against Ireland in 1923-24 and 1924-25, against Wales in 1923-24 and 1924-25 and against France in 1924-25 and 1928-29. It was not until 1928 that another Victoria man represented New Zealand. In that year R. H. C. Mackenzie and J. D. Mackay played for the All Blacks at Christchurch whilst in the following year E. T. Leys was a member of the All Black team which toured Australia. He was page 90 sent over as a replacement when injuries reduced the playing strength of the team.

When the 1926 New Zealand Maori All Blacks toured Great Britain, France and Canada, E. T. W. Love, who later gave his life whilst leading the Maori Battalion in World War II, was chosen to accompany the team. He performed very well on tour and played as half in the International match against France. He had previously represented New Zealand Maoris in New Zealand in 1925. The next Victoria man to gain Maori All Black honours was J. H. Ruru who was already a Maori All Black when he came to University in 1931, having represented New Zealand Maoris against Great Britain and with the New Zealand Maori team in New Zealand in 1927. Whilst a member of the Club he played in the 1931 New Zealand Maori Team which toured in New Zealand, representing the Maoris against Australia in the International match. The third V.U.C. man to represent the Maori race at Rugby was R. Jacob who first gained Maori All Black honours in 1946 in New Zealand and who toured Fiji with the Maori All Blacks in 1948 when he played in all three Tests against Fiji.

In 1928, Great Britain sent a team to the Argentine, and included in the side was J. O. J. Malfroy who had gone to Cambridge University from V. U. C. under a Law Scholarship. This British team did not lose a match.

In 1919, the New Zealand Army Team, with its great performances in England, became one of the most noted groups of players in Rugby history. In Great Britain 38 matches were played, 33 were won, 2 were lost and 3 drawn. G. J. McNaught was a member of the team and played in the matches for the King's Cup won by New Zealand, and also toured South Africa with the team, whilst F. M. H. Hanson played for the team in representative matches in England. Another Victoria man who first started his football at Victoria and then continued his studies at Massey, finally gaining a Rhodes Scholarship and playing for Scotland, was M. McG. Cooper who played for Scotland against Wales and Ireland in 1935-36. J. M. Watt who commenced his Rugby career at V.U.C. later represented New Zealand against Australia in 1936 whilst playing for Otago University.

Two other men who attended Victoria University College and gained New Zealand honours but not whilst playing for the College were J. Wells and E. W. T. Tindill.

At Cricket, the University Club has had three Internationals, E. G. McLeod (who had also represented New Zealand in 1922-23 before coming to Victoria), who gained a place whilst captain of Victoria in the second Test against England in 1929-30, J. A. R. Blandford in the second and third matches against the M.C.C. in 1935-36, and J. A. Ongley who played against Sir Julien Cahn's team in 1938-39. In addition to these men, H. W. Monaghan represented New Zealand prior to joining the University Club and E. W. T. Tindill (who had toured with the University Club on one Christmas Tour of the provinces), K. C. James and H. Foley represented New Zealand whilst playing for other clubs.

At Tennis, Victoria's most famous New Zealand representative is C. E. Malfroy, New Zealand Davis Cup player; whilst R. R. T. Young represented New Zealand in the Davis Cup whilst in residence at 'Varsity in England.

At Athletics, Victoria University College has a large number of Internationals. L. A. Tracy, A. B. Sievwright, W. G. Kalaugher, F. S. Ramson, A. D. Priestley, C. B. Allan, R. W. Lander, C. H. Jenkins, M. Leadbetter and G. J. Sceats all represented New Zealand on various occasions. Kalaugher represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games at Amsterdam and is the only Victoria College man to represent New Zealand at the greatest of all International meetings. A. B. Sievwright represented New Zealand in the Australasian Championships at Sydney in 1920. Tracy won the 440 yards title for New Zealand at the Australasian Games at Hobart in 1924, whilst Priestley was a member of the New Zealand team in the Test Match against Australia at the Basin Reserve in 1925. The others mentioned were all members of the New Zealand team which won the Australasian Games Championship for New Zealand on Athletic Park in 1927, F. S. Ramson being first equal in the 440 yards hurdles and R. Lander winning the 120 yards hurdles.

At Hockey, E. G. McLeod captained New Zealand, as also did N. R. Jacobsen, whilst H. F. Bollard also gained national honours at this sport touring Australia. H. B. Lawry represented the 2nd N.Z.E.F. team which performed so well in India following the end of World War II in 1945-46.

It is notable that E. G. McLeod has gained New Zealand honours in two sports, Cricket and Hockey.

At Badminton, E. A. Rousell was a member of the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1939.

In Golf, W. G. Home was a member of the New Zealand Golf team which played a Test Match against Australia at Lower Hutt in 1946.

The following is the list of Internationals from Victoria University College who were members of the College Clubs whilst at University. It does not include those who played for other City Clubs and gained the honour but does include those who gained the honour where University did not have a Club in the particular sport or whilst playing for another University or whilst in the Services: