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Prominent Northlanders

Ted Griffin played as a lock on ten occasions for Hawkes Bay 1933-1937 and ten for Wellington 1938-1939. Griffin was however better known as the sole selector coach for North Auckland between 1948 and 1973, with the exception of four years spent on the North Island panel in the 1950’s.

Duncan Ross became chairman of the North Auckland Rugby Union in 1947 and led his ‘team’ with unflagging enthusiasm for 30 years until his retirement in 1977. Many called him the ‘father’ of North Auckland Rugby, others dubbed him the ‘Churchill’ of the Union – however undisputedly North Auckland Rugby only became the force it was because of his resolve and stewardship. Ross became a New Zealand Rugby Football Union Councillor in 1954 starting an unbroken 23 year run of service, in the process managing All Black teams in New Zealand and on overseas tours, and ultimately becoming President – formally recognised in 1980 by being bestowed life membership.

Johnny Smith was an outstanding inside back in the late 1940’s and has been heralded as possibly the greatest centre-three-quarter New Zealand has seen in the game to date. A strong runner and great link-man, Smith possessed the ability to fool the opposition into overlooking his presence until such time as he exploded with a sudden burst of speed and got into the clear.

‘Doc’ Paewai made his first class debut for Otago while a medical student in 1940, going on to play for Southland, Auckland and Wellington before representing North Auckland in 1947 and 1950 through 1952 in 14 matches. Paewai also represented New Zealand Maori in 1946, 1950 and 1951 and was considered to be one of the most unlucky of players not to have gained All Black honours.

Peter Jones is regarded as one of the greatest loose forwards New Zealand has produced to date, playing 11 test matches between 1953 and 1960. At 18 years of age Jones entered first class Rugby when he turned out for North Auckland against Bay of Plenty in 1950, marking his debut by scoring two tries. At 1.88m tall and in his prime weighing in at 105 kgs Jones was an imposing figure with ball in hand, especially as his size was allied to a surprising turn of pace - reportedly capable of running 100 yards in well under 11 seconds. Jones toured Britain, France and the Pacific Coast of North America in 1953 playing 15 matches and scoring 10 tries. Jones played only two tests against the Australians in 1955 and 1956 but enjoyed a recall to the All Blacks for the third and fourth tests of the 1956 Springbok tour of New Zealand. Jones made a tremendous impact in both games, his try in the fourth now immortalised as one of the greatest forward tries of all time. At the end of his epic display in the win over the Springboks at Eden Park a radio microphone was placed in front of Jones as New Zealand celebrated what was a historic series triumph and asked “how did he feel?” Heedless of the fact he was talking on a nation-wide transmission, Jones instantly responded by saying “I’m absolutely buggered!” In the inhibited 1950’s any use of what were regarded as swear words was frowned upon, however, such was New Zealand’s euphoria, the supposed Jones breach of propriety went unchallenged.

Sid Going

Sid Going burst on to the North Auckland Rugby scene in 1965 and it soon became obvious he was simply a Rugby genius. That same year Sid played for both his province and New Zealand Maori against the Springboks and no one in attendance at the latter game at Eden Park will forget his epic try scored just two minutes into the game. In 1966 Sid received a New Zealand trial, played for the North Island and for New Zealand Maori against the British Isles. In 1967 Sid played for the All Blacks against Australia in the Jubilee Test and then went on their tour to Canada, Great Britain and France. Carrying on his fine form, Sid became New Zealand’s hero in 1968 with his two sensational tries against France in the third test at Eden Park. Sid was generally revered for his pinching of the ball from the opposition, his acrobatic athleticism in leaping into the air to take high ball, his uncanny knack of scoring shock tries, and his cavalier treatment of tackling even the burliest of forwards. Sid ranks amongst some of the best halfbacks ever to have played the game, strong and stocky, a superb runner close to his forwards with a flair for the unorthodox. Sid played 110 matches for North Auckland from 1962 to 1978 and 86 matches for the All Blacks from 1967 to 1977. In 1978 Sid retired from first class Rugby but in later years went on to coach Northland from 1993 to 1996. His brother Ken Going was an All Black (a fullback) in 1974 and another brother Brian Going represented North Auckland, North Island and New Zealand Maori (as a 1st five-eighth). The three made a blind-side triple scissors movement their trademark.

Richie Guy played 90 games for North Auckland from 1966 to 1975 during which he scored the remarkable number (for a prop forward) of 22 tries. Guy became an All Black in 1971 and played nine games for New Zealand. In 1981 Guy became North Auckland Union Chairman, a position he held until 1986. His clear thinking, his ability to express himself in such a way so that confused issues became clarified, his knack of getting things done and his manner of leading the North Auckland administrative team by example were four of Guy’s extra special attributes of note. In 1984 Guy won a place on the New Zealand Rugby Union Council, a position he held until 2001, appointed as Chairman 1995 through 1996. Guy held the position of All Black team manager for the 1986 and 1987 seasons and was bestowed life membership of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in 2001.

Joe Morgan set a record of 165 first class appearances for North Auckland which remains unsurpassed to this day. For 15 years Morgan was the regular second-five-eighth for North Auckland missing only a dozen or so provincial games whilst on All Black duty. Morgan was not known as a fast runner, however, acted as a superb link to the fast attacking back-line outside of him and was renown for his solid tackling. Morgan is best remembered for his individually worked try during the 15-9 second test triumph at Bloemfontein which is revered as one of the great tries of All Black/South Africa Rugby. Morgan retired at age 36 following North Auckland’s last game of the 1981 season and his 200th first class appearance.

Few players have worn the North Auckland jersey with greater distinction, certainly none with greater pride than Peter Sloane. As an alert thinking and quick striking hooker he had few, if any, peers in international Rugby. From his debut to first class Rugby in 1972 Sloane was respected as an all round footballer of intense determination and as a leader who could always drag that something extra of his men. Sloane captained North Auckland from mid-1978 until his retirement at the end of 1983 having played 147 matches in the Cambridge Blue. In addition, Sloane played 16 matches for the All Blacks, in total amassing 174 first class appearances.

Eddie Dunn was the elder of two Northland brothers, both of whom played test Rugby for the All Blacks as first-five-eighths between 1978 and 1983. In some seasons Eddie and Ian, who was younger by five and a half years, were also competing against each other for the number 10 jersey in the North Auckland representative side. There were times however, when both were accommodated with one or the other shifting to another position, either at second five or fullback. Eddie first entered the representative arena as an 18 year old in 1973 and soon became the inspiration of the North Auckland team astutely dictating play, a feature being his tactical short punt that created many openings. In 1978 Eddie gained selection in the All Black team to tour the British Isles, where he played 9 matches scoring three tries and drop-kicking two goals - one of which being the vital last minute kick that brought victory over the Barbarians. Eddie holds the Northland record for the most drop goals in a season, 10 and the most dropped goals for the province, 24. All in all Eddie played for North Auckland in 1973, 1977 through 1984, and 1986 in a total of 104 matches and as an All Black in a total of 20 matches in 1978, 1978 and 1981. Ian Dunn made his first class debut in 1980 and played a total of 95 matches for North Auckland. In 1983 and 1984 Ian played 13 matches against the British Isles and Australia for the All Blacks.

Fred Woodman was the older of the two Woodman brothers and between 1978, when he came into provincial Rugby as a 19 year old, and 1988 he played 114 matches for North Auckland scoring some 47 tries. Fred had the physique of a greyhound and was slightly faster than his younger brother, Kawhena. In his first season of first class rugby Fred made the New Zealand Maori team and over the next four seasons was a regular team selection. Fred made his All Black debut against Fiji in 1980 scoring a try and in all played 14 matches for the All Blacks. Kawhena Woodman played on the wing for North Auckland from 1980 to 1992 appearing in 126 matches and scoring 39 tries. Kawhena gained New Zealand Maori honours in 1982 and played consistently for them until 1985, also becoming an All Black in 1984 playing a total of 6 matches.

Norm Berryman first played for North Auckland in 1991 and continued through until 2003, playing a total of 107 matches for the province and one game for the All Blacks in 1998. Berryman holds the Northland record for: the most tries in a game, seven against Wairarapa Bush in 1994; the most tries in a season, 21 also in 1994; and the most tries in a career for Northland, 71.

Glen Taylor was nicknamed ‘Towers’ as he stood at 2m tall and weighed in at 108 kgs. Considered to have the ideal physique for the grafting type of lock Taylor, however, spent a considerable part of his early career playing as a blindside flanker. Taylor was respected as a stout-hearted, no nonsense tight forward and incredibly loyal servant of the Northland province for 14 seasons. There were many opportunities for Taylor to leave Northland and go to one of the metropolitan unions or take up a lucrative overseas contract. Even when Northland was relegated and spent a lengthy period in the second division in the 1990’s Taylor stayed true to his home union. Taylor captained Northland for eight seasons and on retirement in 2003 he had played 143 games for his province and six matches for the All Blacks - amassing a total of 250 first class games.

David Holwell first represented Northland as a 20 year old in 1995 and played for the province until 1998 when he transferred to Wellington, returning to Northland in 2005. Holwell holds a number of provincial records: the most points scored for Northland in a match, 38 versus Thames Valley in 1997; the most conversions in a game, 14 again versus Thames Valley in 1997; the most conversions in a season, 85 in 1997, and the most points in a season, 283 in 1997. Holwell played: 102 games for Northland; 61 for Wellington; 76 for the Hurricanes; and 6 for the Blues – amassing a formidable 249 first class matches, scoring a total of 2181 points. 

Justin Collins represented Northland from 1994 to 2000 and then again from 2006 until 2008, for a total of 112 games. In addition, Collins represented Auckland for 46 games and played in 106 Super Rugby matches from 1998 to 2008. During his time with Northland, Collins scored 30 tries and holds the record as the highest Northland try-scoring forward.

Northlanders and Rugby World Cup

Ian Jones proudly wearing his 'Paint It Red 2011' shirt.

Ian Jones, a 1.98m lock originating from the Kamo Club in Whangarei has to date been the only Northlander to turn out for a Rugby World Cup match in the All Black jumper (# 902). 

Long and lanky, Jones overcame constant carping, especially in his early years, about his perceived lack of bulk to become one of New Zealand rugby's greatest ever locks. When he left the New Zealand game in 1999 to finish out his playing days with a lucrative English contract with Gloucester he had 79 tests to his credit, second only to Sean Fitzpatrick's 92.

Jones was a product of Northland and was forever known by the nickname, ‘Kamo’ after the Whangarei suburb in which he grew up. He failed to win early recognition and was overlooked for New Zealand Colts honours. His potential only came to light when he made the North Auckland team, as it was then, in 1988 as a 21-year old stripling.

Jones in his first season excelled in an otherwise badly beaten North Auckland side in its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Auckland, securing a surprising amount of lineout ball. He confirmed that promise with another fine lineout performance for The Rest which stretched the shadow test XV in a trial early in 1989. That earmarked him as a top prospect and accordingly he was taken on that year's end of season tour to Wales and Ireland, mainly for development purposes. Though Gary Whetton and Murray Pierce were the established test locks Jones had an excellent tour and when Pierce retired there was no concern about introducing him for his first cap - at Dunedin's Carisbrook against Scotland in 1990, marking the occasion with a try. Coincidently six years later Jones played his 50th test, again at Carisbrook and again against Scotland, scoring another try on almost the same spot as on debut.

From 1990 through to 1997, other than the odd glitch, Jones was an automatic selection and he was one who emerged from Rugby World Cup 1991 disappointment with his reputation intact. From 1992 and into the latter years of the decade he and Robin Brooke formed one of the most enduring locking partnerships in international Rugby. They were an ideal complement with one commanding the front of line-outs and the other the middle and whereas Brooke was a hardnosed grinder Jones had the ball skills in the open.

Between 1988 and 1993 Jones played 66 matches for North Auckland but suffered when the union was relegated to the NPC second division after the 1992 season. Jones stayed on to captain the union but began to struggle internationally and during the series against the Lions that year was dropped for one of the tests. He transferred to the neighbouring North Harbour union and played out the rest of his provincial career with Harbour, finishing with 53 matches. Back in the NPC first division, he reasserted himself as a first choice test player and had an especially outstanding Rugby World Cup 1995.

Jones and Brooke were unchallenged as the test pair through the phenomenally successful 1996 and 1997 seasons, which saw the All Blacks win the inaugural Tri-Nations titles and in 1996 become the first from New Zealand to win a series in South Africa. But in 1998 Jones' fortunes began to wane and he was one who paid for the five consecutive test losses that year. He was relegated to the reserves in favour of Royce Willis for the final two tests of that unhappy winter.

Jones struggled again to hold his place in 1999 and when he was demoted to the New Zealand A squad in the domestic season it appeared his test days were over. But after some lineout problems were exposed in a test loss to the Wallabies in Sydney he was recalled to Rugby World Cup squad for his third Tournament. Jones was used sparingly, appearing only in the romp over Italy and coming on as a replacement in the quarterfinal against Scotland. Having had the good fortune to have gone on extensive tours in his early years, Jones is the last man to have topped a century (105) matches for the All Blacks.

In the Super 12 Jones made 38 appearances, often as captain, for the Chiefs between 1996 and 1999, scoring three tries in a match, against the Waratahs in 1996. Following his return to New Zealand in 2002 after his stint in English Rugby Jones entered the limelight as a perceptive commentator for Sky Television.

 [Profile by Bob Luxford for the New Zealand Rugby Museum]