PNBHS 1964 -1966 – Kia Ora Club

Bob was an outstanding athlete and scholar at school. Middle distance running, road race and cross country were his strengths. In 1966 he broke the school’s Senior 880 yards record (2min 1.3 seconds) and went on to win the same event at the Manawatu Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics. Bob was the Club Captain of Kia Ora in 1966. He was a Platoon Officer and Company Commander in the school’s Cadet Unit and was a School Prefect. Bob also excelled at tennis and was in the A Team for three years. He was promoted to the 1st XV in 1964 after returning from a year at Hastings Boys’ High School and he was a member of the school’s inaugural 1st XV tour to Australia. He went on to play for the 1st XV over 60 times and scored over 300 points. Bob was vice-captain in the undefeated 1966 side, only the second team in the school’s history to do this. “The 1966 rugby season will be mentioned with delight at Old Boys’ gatherings wherever they be held” said Mr Colquhoun (IAC).

Bob represented Manawatu Rugby 24 times between 1967-68 and 1971-73 and he represented Southland in 1970 when he was teaching at Southland Boys’ High School. He was a NZ Junior and NZ Universities representative in 1968 and toured Japan with NZU in 1970.

In 1970 Bob refused nomination for the All Black trials for the tour of South Africa as a protest against that country’s apartheid regime. Picked for the All Blacks in 1971, he became All Black number 690 and played 30 times for the All Blacks including 7 tests. “Following the 2nd test against the Lions in 1971 several critics rated the Manawatu five-eight the best All Black 1st five for over 20 years. He was outstanding in the memorable 22-12 victory at Lancaster Park scoring two brilliant tries and displaying his class as a running passing five-eight” (NZ newspaper). Bob went on the 1972-73 tour to the UK, France and the US. It was the last of the long tours (32 games). In Belfast he received a letter of warning from the Sinn Fein, the political arm of the IRA, not to discuss politics. He played better outside Lyn Colling rather than the unpredictable Syd Going who never had the reputation of giving his 1st five an armchair ride. In 1973-75 he played for Lyon Olympique Universitaire in Lyon, France. One season he was voted the best 1st five in France. Two other members of the 1966 1st XV also became All Blacks; John Loveday and Ian Stevens.