Alistair Soper

Last updated

Alistair Soper
Birth nameAlistair John Soper
Date of birth(1936-09-07)7 September 1936
Place of birth Invercargill, New Zealand
Date of death16 June 2020(2020-06-16) (aged 83)
Place of deathInvercargill, New Zealand
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb)
School Waitaki Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1954–59, 61–66 Southland 103 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1957 New Zealand 0 (0)

Alistair John "Ack" Soper (7 September 1936 – 16 June 2020) was a New Zealand rugby union player.

A number eight, Soper represented Southland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on their 1957 tour of Australia. [1] He played eight matches for the All Blacks on that tour, but did not appear in any internationals. [1] He served as president of the Southland Rugby Union in 1985. [1]

Soper played for the English club Blackheath in the 1960–61 season. [2]

Soper died in Invercargill on 16 June 2020, aged 83. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national rugby union team</span> Mens rugby union team of New Zealand

The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Rugby</span> Rugby union governing body

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. It was founded in 1892 as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU), 12 years after the first provincial unions in New Zealand. In 1949 it became an affiliate to the International Rugby Football Board, now known as World Rugby, the governing body of rugby union for the world. It dropped the word "Football" from its name in 2006. The brand name New Zealand Rugby was adopted in 2013. Officially, it is an incorporated society with the name New Zealand Rugby Union Incorporated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Wilson (sportsman)</span> New Zealand cricketer and rugby union player

Jeffrey William Wilson is a New Zealand sportsman who has represented his country in both rugby union and cricket – a so-called "Double All Black", an increasingly rare achievement in the professional era. He is also a basketballer, and won national secondary school titles in track and field. With 44 tries in 60 tests, Wilson is ranked thirteenth on the list of highest test try scorers in rugby. Wilson is married to Adine Wilson, former captain of the New Zealand national netball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Harbour Rugby Union</span> Sports club

The North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU), commonly known as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is the governing body of rugby union that encompasses a wide geographical area north of Auckland that includes North Shore City, Rodney District, the Hibiscus Coast and part of Waitakere City. There are 12 rugby clubs from Mahurangi RFC, based in Warkworth, Rodney District, in the north through to Massey the southernmost area of the union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby Southland</span>

Rugby Southland is the provincial rugby union who govern the Southland region of New Zealand. Their headquarters are at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill, which is also the home ground of the union's professional team, the Southland Stags who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division and challenge for the Ranfurly Shield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Marshall</span> NZ international rugby union player

Justin Warren Marshall is a New Zealand former rugby union player. He played 81 games for the New Zealand All Blacks between 1995 and 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Cowan</span> Rugby player

Quinton James Cowan is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He first played for the All Blacks – New Zealand's national team – during the 2004 tour to the United Kingdom and France, and played his last Test match for the side during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Cowan was born in Gore and attended Gore High School. After he left school a strong season for the Mataura Rugby Club saw him selected to play provincially for the Southland Stags in 2000. He was selected for the Highlanders in the 2003 Super 12 season, and continued to play for both the Highlanders and Southland until signing for Gloucester in 2012.

Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otago Rugby Football Union</span> Rugby team in New Zealand

The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial competition. The union was to have been liquidated in March 2012. However a deal involving the Dunedin City Council allowed it to keep operating. Otago have won the Ranfurly Shield on seven occasions. They were the National provincial championship winners in 1991 and 1998. They have a proud record playing international teams, having defeated South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athol, New Zealand</span> Place in South Island, New Zealand

Athol is a small town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 6, 55 km south of Queenstown, halfway between Lumsden and Kingston on the Southern Scenic Route. Farming has always been very important in the district, though in earlier times gold mining, centred on nearby Nokomai, was also significant. In recent decades tourist numbers have grown. The Mataura River is well known for the quality of its brown trout fishing, and the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, opened in November 2014, has further boosted visitor figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Stead</span> NZ international rugby union player & coach (1877-1958)

Billy Stead, born John William Stead, was a rugby union player born in Invercargill who played for New Zealand, the All Blacks, on their 1905–06 tour. Stead also played provincially for Southland, and later coached various teams, including Southland and the New Zealand Māori. A bootmaker by trade, he also co-authored The Complete Rugby Footballer with Dave Gallaher, and was a columnist for the Southland Times, and New Zealand Truth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Braddon</span> Australian politician

Sir Henry Yule Braddon was an Australian diplomat, businessman and rugby union player who played for Otago, New South Wales and New Zealand. The position he generally played in was fullback. He is listed as the second All Black in playing order.

Tevita Hale Nai Tu'uhoko, often known simply as Hale T-Pole or Hale T Pole, is a Tongan rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker or number eight for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan. He has also played internationally for Tonga and the Pacific Islanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Mackintosh</span> Rugby player

Jamie Mackintosh is a New Zealand professional rugby union player currently playing for the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Thomson (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Adam Thomson is a New Zealand rugby union player. He represented the New Zealand All Blacks between 2008 and 2012, playing a total of 29 tests including two during the victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. He played for the Melbourne Rebels in 2016, having also played Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds (2015) and Highlanders (2006-2012). He has also represented the Canon Eagles in Japan's Top League and New Zealand province Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Crotty</span> Rugby player

Ryan Stevenson Crotty is a New Zealand-born rugby union Rugby player. He currently plays as a midfield back for the Kubota Spears in the Japanese Top League.

Donald Cameron Hamilton was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented the New Zealand national rugby union team, the All Blacks in 1908. He played rugby league for his province and he was also an accomplished cricketer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Robertson</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Casey Caldwell is a former rugby union player for New Zealand. She represented Canterbury and Southland at provincial level. She played prop before switching to number eight, in 38 tests for the Black Ferns, she had played 16 at prop and 22 as a loose forward.

Folau Fakatava is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.

Alena Saili is a New Zealand rugby sevens player.is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays seven-a-side and fifteen-a-side rugby union, and is a member of the New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Knight, Lindsay. "Ack Soper". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 Savory, Logan (19 June 2020). "Southland rugby legend Ack Soper's legacy to live on". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 June 2020.