Charlie Seeling

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 973, 16 May 1930, Page 10

Charlie Seeling

| HOW WORLD'S GREATEST j RUGBY FORWARD CAME I TO AUCKLAND J J CITY CLUB’S HISTORY How it was that Charles Seeling, the world’s greatest Rugby forward, came to Auckland and threw in his lot with a club here, will be told in the -sports edition of THE SUN tomorrow evening. This AA'ill be one of the incidents of the halcyon days of Auckland Rugby football, which will be recorded in the history of the City District Union Rugby Club, which will form the fourth of a series of articles appearing in the sports edition weekly on the histories of the more important clubs in Auckland’s three football codes.

At the height of its power, from 1900 almost up till the declaration of Avar, the City Club had one of the finest Rugby teams the game in New Zealand has known. Four members of the club, C. Seeling, G. A. Tyler, G. W. Smith and G. W. H. Nicholson Avere included in the country’s first All Black side, in 1905, and another member of that famous band, W. Cunningham, played with City up till 1903.

That is a record only equalled in 1928, Avhen the High School Old Boys’ Club, Christchurch, had four members in the team which toured South Africa. In addition, City at one time and another had other outstanding pla3 r ers in its ranks. among whom Avas A. (“Opai”) Asher, who was a member 2 f the NeAV Zealand side which visited Australia in 1903. “Opai” later deA’oted his attention to the League Rugby game, and attained not only Ncav Zealand but also Australasian representati\'e honours in the younger code. The earlier chapter of his career will be detailed in the City Club's history.

Seeling also later played the Northern Union game in England, where he reached the pinnacle of fame, Avhich v. on for him the reputation as the “best ever.”