A GREAT RUGBY CAPTAIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 95, 15 January 1918, Page 7

A GREAT RUGBY CAPTAIN

THE LATE DAVID GALLAHER

David Gallaher, the most famous captain iii Rugby since Harry Vassall, of Marlborough and Hertford, Oxford, has died of wounds. This news will bo heard with widespread regret. The name of "Dave" " Gallaher was familiarly known in sport at home and in the Overseas Dominions. Wheu iie came over here twelve vears ago and led that Rugby Fifteen from New Zealand to victory everywhere but at Cardiff Arms Park (it is .juestioned oven to-day whether Wales won that match), Gallaher made many enduring friendships, and by corresponded he always kept them in Rood repair. 11ns campaign on the Western tront was not his first in actual warfare. Hβ fought in South - Africa with the Now Zealand Contingent, and had the decorations for distinguished service. Although beyond military age, Gallaher came" over with one of the later contingents, and .passed over to the Continent some six months ago. Gnllaner, with his magnificent physique, had preserved his early robust health, and when he left London mi the summer looked as fit and was as happy as when lie was taking his great side on to the field. Gallaher had left his wife and his wealth in New Zealand to nnswv the "call." Ho was bountifully enIdowed with the happy spirit, and his

lettors from the front showed this. Only tho other day he was writing: "I see from Hie reports that you aro having an air raid now and again over London. It is about timo that tho powers that ho dropped the kid glove business and gave pur enemies a taste of thoir own medicine."

Gailaher was a bravo soldier with no aspirations for <-ommissioned rank. As a sergeant ho thought he would always be more in ihe thick of it along vith his own Now Zoalanders of grit ard stamina.

The Gailaher movement in 1905 was far-reaching in its influence in Eugby. It was the beginning of a new era in tho game, just as Harry Vassall's Oxford movement had been in the 'eighties. The New Zoalanders found that English Eugby Unionists had be«n overtaken by a period of'slackncss that not even Wales could rouse them from. But Gailaher with his ideas, developed in practice to a fine art, restored the flagging spirit of English Eugby, and stirred again the enthusiasm aud effort that have since prevailed in tho sport of Bngby. England took up quickly the new scienofs of forward play, with its methodical scrummaging and the men always packing in a regular position; then there wus tho quick heeling with tho quick breaking-up_; and outside the scrummage the disposition of the backs was mad" to workon the pivot of tho five-jighths for attack that could be developed on eithoi wing. Gailaher himself "ecame famous for the institution of the "wing" forward as something far different trorn the old-fashioned wing forward as he was known from all tiino in Mglimd. Tbe fairness of tho position was questioned. But Mr. Percy Coles the c-kl Oxford captain, passed it at Exeter in the first New Zealand match, lhat was good enough for most of us, lor Coles was au old Rugby schoolboy and was steeped in the cardinal virtues or the gamo under Harry Vasaall .at Oxford Galtaher. was a real artist in the novel position, but in other hands I the work was too often clumsily performed and brought many penalties-on those who attempted to copy the v.aster Naturally. Grilahor regretted at the time that his. side was niuiVfc-to earrv out the inunction of &eddon. the "New Zealand Premier: Bo Miie and beat Wales." But ,n a ter he would make merry over the incident" at Cardiff Arms Park, and would STtlmtf .Tol'" Dallas, tho referee, should have been "up" to see for himself. -