FROM RUGBY TO LEAGUE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 1

FROM RUGBY TO LEAGUE

PAEWAI AND RURU MAY GO OVER TO ANOTHER CODE TN all probability there is going to be a big stir among Auckland's Rugby followers when it is made known that two or their most prominent senior players, one a 1924 All Black, have changed over to play for the League code. It has been reported that Lui Paewai and Ruru, who have been recently playing for the Grafton Rugby Club’s senior team, have made the necessary arrangements to play for the Marists and City League Clubs respectively. While the supporters of the Rugby code will be mourning over the loss of two of their best; League enthusiasts will be rejoicing over the best changeover they have had 'or many years, and this fact no doubt will be well borne out when the two stalwart Maoris take the field for the first time at Carlaw Park next Saturday. It is rather unfortunate that Paewai, the 1924 All Black, should be the first of that illustrious combination to change over to another code. Lui’s brother, Niki, however, was a representative New Zealand League player, so Lui is not the first of that wellknown Hawke’s Bay family of sports to help the newer code along. League clubs in England have at imes offered large and substantial sums to All Blaak Rugby players in an endeavour to place them in their senior teams. But these offers have always been met with a refusal.

Ruru. who represented Te Aute Maori College in Rugby, later came to the Queen city, where the Grafton Club quickly grabbed him. It is stated that he is a student at St. John’s College and is going in for the ministry.