Personalities In Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 369, 1 June 1928, Page 10

Personalities In Sport

One who can always be coupled with the history of the Rugby League code in New Zealand is Mr. E. Asher, who is at present carrying on business in this city as a tobacconist. Just plain Ernie, as he is known to all the Leaguers in the province, comes of a real footballing family. There are six brothers, all of whom were well above the standard of the average player in either Rugby League or Rugby Union. Perhaps the bestknown of the lialf-dozen is “Opai,” who donned the New Zealand representative jersey for both codes. Very early in this century Ernie was

ERNIE” ASHER HAS BEEN STALWART OF LEAGUE CODE FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS

a prominent senior Rugby player of Tauranga. In 1908 he turned his attentions to the League code, and in that year he and his brother “Opai” got their heads together and organised the first Maori Rugby League team to tour Australia. Both brothers were included in the team, and ranked among the best. In spite of a misunderstanding they had to face concerning the rules of the game, the tour was quite successful, and the team returned to the Dominion with colours flying. In 1909 “Ernie” and “Opai” found themselves again off to Australia W'ith another team .of Maori Leaguers, under the managership of the late Mr. John Hettit, of Te Kuiti, a well-known “head” in that district. This team was most successful, and managed to win most of the important games. Such brilliant displays did the Maorilanders put up on this occasion that the “big chiefs” of the game across the Tasman W'ere not anxious to waste any time in signing them up for a tour of England. However, the New Zealanders felt that their team was not sufficiently strong to continue the tour to the Old Country, and they returned home. In 1910 “Ernie” Asher sought fresh fields, and came to Auckland. His first move on arrival in the Queen City was to start the City Rovers’ Football Club, which is functioning at the present time, and which has one team in the senior competition of the Auckland Rugby League, besides many junior teams, which have all done well. A snappy wing-threequarter who could take his position anywhere in the rearguard line, even fullback, did not miss the eyes of the selectors, and “Ernie” Asher found himself chosen to represent New Zealand in tests against the first batch of English Leaguers to visit these shores. In 1911 he had by no means lost his dash, and was in the New Zealand representative team which toured Australia. Until about 12 years ago, when “Ernie” gave the game best, he was a prominent senior player in club football. The year 1928 marks Mr. Ernie Asher’s twentieth season associated with Rugby League football, and during the last IS years, when he has been in Auckland, he has been closely connected with the City Rovers’ Club, and is to-day the club’s secretary. On the official side, lie has represented his club at various times on the Auckland Rugby League, and for the last seven years has been a selector for the League in this city. He is a life member of the New Zealand League, and last year acted as selector for the council of the New Zealand League.