Gage was born in Kihikihi to Annie (daughter of Joseph Jenner Merrett and Rangitetaea Koa) and John Gage (son of George Gage and Waana Pororua).[3] After an early education in Auckland, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Te Aute College in the Hawke's Bay.[4] After joining the Poneke Football Club of fellow Te Aute old-boy Thomas Ellison in 1887, he made his provincial debut for Wellington in that same year.[3][1] It was probably at Ellison's suggestion that he was selected for Joe Warbrick's Native Football team that toured New Zealand, Australia, and Britain in 1888 and 1889.[5]
Gage played in 68 of the Natives side's 74 matches when in Britain,[1] and appeared in their fixtures against Ireland,[6]Wales,[7] and England.[8] The 74 British Isles matches were played over a period of six months,[9] averaging a match every 2.3 days, and the Natives' team often struggled to field a fit side.[10] He could play anywhere in the backs,[5] and ended up appearing in every back-line position despite originally being selected as a fullback.[3] When the Natives toured Australia after the British Isles leg of their tour, Gage returned to New Zealand due to an ill relative. He did turn out for the team once they returned to New Zealand however, when he played a further five matches.[11]
After returning to Wellington, Gage continued playing for Poneke, and represented Wellington in 1889.[12] The following season, the Wellington Rugby Union (WRU)—which administered the sport in the city—decided that Gage was ineligible for selection in the provincial team. Poneke responded by withdrawing from the club competition,[3] and the exclusion of any Poneke players weakened the Wellington side considerably.[13] Hawke's Bay hosted Wellington that season, and Gage was eligible for the Bay side after playing several club games in the region; despite the opportunity to "get even" with the Wellington authorities, he declined to play for Hawke's Bay.[3][lower-alpha 1] 1891 and 1892 saw Gage return to the Wellington side,[12] and he was then selected for the first representative New Zealand side organised under the authority of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.[4] The New Zealand team toured Australia in 1893, and was captained by Gage's Poneke and Wellington teammate Ellison.[3] He was again selected for New Zealand in 1896, this time captaining the team against Queensland in Wellington.[4] During his rugby career, which ended in 1901,[1] Gage amassed 131 first-class appearances, an enormous number for the time.[4]
Gage worked as both a Māori interpreter, and later for the Wellington City Council. Following Gage's death from tuberculosis at age 48, the Poneke Club raised money to pay for his headstone in Karori Cemetery, and support his widow and six children.[1][2] Former Poneke and Wellington captain Sid Nicholls said of him:[3]
His sure foot could pilot the ball over the bar with little effort. He could side-step, dodge, serve, and keep his feet while others were floundering about; in fact, Davy was a marvel on the field, and his sure taking of the ball and his instant return were perfection. He could collar his man and smother the pass as few could, and his smart, dodgy run, with a quick pass at the exact moment were characteristic of his brainy play.[3]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Gage.
Books
Mulholland, Malcolm (2009). Beneath the Māori Moon—An Illustrated History of Māori Rugby. Wellington, New Zealand: Huia Publishers. ISBN978-1-86969-305-3.
Ryan, Greg (1993). Forerunners of the All Blacks. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury University Press. ISBN0-908812-30-2.
Swan, Arthur C.; Jackson, Gordon F. W. (1952). Wellington's Rugby History 1870 – 1950. Wellington, New Zealand: A. H. & A. W. Reed.
Other
Luxford, Bob. "David Gage". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
Te Aute College is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams, an Anglican missionary, and nephew and son-in-law of Bishop William Williams. It has a strong Māori character.
The Wellington Rugby Football Union are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region. The main stadium is Sky Stadium which is located in Wellington. The union also represents the Wellington Lions, which is professional rugby union team who compete in the National Provincial Championship competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield. Before 2006 the Lions competed in the original National Provincial Championship.
Tamati Edward Ellison is a New Zealand rugby union footballer.
The 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team was a New Zealand rugby union team that toured Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in 1888 and 1889. It mostly comprised players of Māori ancestry, but also included some Pākehā. A wholly private endeavour, the tour was not under the auspices of any official rugby authority; it was organised by New Zealand international player Joseph Warbrick, promoted by public servant Thomas Eyton, and managed by James Scott, a publican. The Natives were the first New Zealand team to perform a haka, and also the first to wear all black. They played 107 rugby matches during the tour, as well as a small number of Victorian Rules football matches in Australia. Having made a significant impact on the development of New Zealand rugby, the Natives were inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2008.
Joseph Astbury Warbrick was a Māori rugby union player who represented New Zealand on their 1884 tour to Australia and later captained the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that embarked on a 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia, and the British Isles.
Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, also known as Tamati Erihana, was a New Zealand rugby union player and lawyer. He led the first New Zealand representative rugby team organised by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) on their 1893 tour of Australia. Ellison also played in the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team on their epic 107-match tour, scoring 113 points, and 43 tries with the side.
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Patrick Keogh, also known as Pat Keogh or Paddy Keogh, was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team. Playing at half-back, Keogh was considered the star player on the tour, which was the first by a Southern Hemisphere team to the British Isles. He played in at least 70 of the team's 107 matches in the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand. After playing for Dunedin club Kaikorai from 1884, he was selected to represent his province of Otago from 1887, and played for them against the touring British Isles team in 1888. By this time Keogh had established himself as the outstanding half-back in New Zealand, and he was approached by Joe Warbrick to tour with the Native team in mid-1888.
George Albert Williams, also known as Bully Williams, was a New Zealand rugby union player who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team to the British Isles and Australia. Williams was one of five non-Māori players in the Natives' side.
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