New Zealand Sport Hall of Fame Inductees

Popularly known as the Kiwis, they became one of the most influential and significant teams in rugby history.

The Original All Blacks established the patterns for all to follow, showing that while the birth of rugby may have been in Britain, its real development was in New Zealand.

They were described, by 1905 hooker George Tyler no less, as the weakest team New Zealand had fielded.

It was fitting, given that New Zealand was one of the countries that pushed hardest for the introduction of the World Cup, that the first cup was won by the All Blacks.

Fred Allen had a distinguished career as a rugby player, including being All Black captain, but it was as a coach that he gained an unmatched status.

One of three brothers to play rugby for New Zealand, Brownlie is regarded as one of the greatest loose forwards the All Blacks have had.

Though his records have been broken, Don Clarke’s status as a supreme All Black fullback remains undimmed.

Even 50 years after his career, Cooke was still being described as one of the most instinctively brilliant backs seen in New Zealand, even by people who had never seen him play.

Tom Ellison was a remarkable figure in the early days of New Zealand rugby and one of the most enduringly influential the game has known.

Sean Fitzpatrick played more tests for the All Blacks than anyone else, captained them more than anyone else.

Sidney Milton Going played twenty-nine test matches for New Zealand between 1967 and 1977 and during his decade at the top, he was regarded as one of the most renowned halfbacks to play for the All Blacks. Photo courtesy of Peter Bush.

Ron Jarden was one of the outstanding wings in New Zealand rugby and his scoring ratio – 145 tries in 134 first-class matches – is all the more noteworthy considering a lack of emphasis on back play during his era.

Michael Jones burst onto world rugby when he scored the opening try in the first World Cup in 1987 in his first game for New Zealand.

John Kirwan was one of the most devastating wing threequarters to play rugby for New Zealand; when in top form, he was an irresistible try-scorer as his 35 tries in 63 test matches indicates (plus another 32 tries in non-test matches).

Jonah Lomu was a player beyond the normal measures of achievement in sport. They were for other people; Lomu was unique.

Regarded by many as the epitome of the hard, rugged New Zealand rugby forward, Colin Meads's international career lasted from 1957 until 1971 and he continued playing first-class rugby for another two years after that.

Nepia was the 19-year-old sensation on the Invincible All Blacks’ tour of Britain and Canada in 1924-25.

Bob Scott was described by rugby commentator Winston McCarthy as a footballing genius, and there would be few who would disagree.

"Bronco" Seeling was an outstanding forward in the Original All Blacks of 1905 and renowned for his tackling and his strength.

“Buck” Shelford captured the imagination of the New Zealand rugby public during his six years in the All Blacks, during which he played 48 times and was unbeaten as test captain between 1988 and 1990.

Skinner was one of the great All Black props of the 40s and early 50s but his fame almost entirely centres on his coming out of retirement in 1956 to bolster the New Zealand pack against South Africa in one of the most tumultuous series New Zealand has seen.

In the exclusive company of the All Blacks of the 60s, Kel Tremain was an exceptional player.

Sir Wilson Whineray played 77 matches for New Zealand, including 32 tests, and is regarded as one of the most successful and inspirational captains the All Blacks have had.

Whatever else Bryan Williams achieved in rugby – and he achieved much – the blaze of publicity he gained as a 19-year-old on the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in 1970 never quite left him.

As a youngster at school in Invercargill, Jeff Wilson was a wonder of his age on the sporting field, whether rugby, cricket or, so it seemed, anything else he tried.