Robin Archer

Last updated

Robin Archer
Birth nameWilliam Robert Archer
Date of birth(1930-09-19)19 September 1930
Place of birth Gore, New Zealand
Date of death Auckland, New Zealand
Place of death9 March 2018(2018-03-09) (aged 87)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
School Gore High School
University University of Otago
Notable relative(s) James Archer (uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1953–55 Otago 24 ()
1956–66 Southland 91 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1954 NZ Universities
1955–57 New Zealand 4 (0)
Coaching career
YearsTeam
1973–75, 80–81 Southland

William Robert "Robin" Archer (19 September 1930 – 9 March 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. A first five-eighth, Archer represented Otago and Southland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks.

Contents

Early life

He was born in Gore to William Charles Archer and Alice Louisa Archer, (née Roberts). His siblings were Watson, Rayna , Linley, Hilary, Jill, Nancy and Aylwyn. [1]

For a period during Robin's childhood the family lived in Invercargill before they returned to Gore. [2]

Archer attended Gore High School where he was a member of the 1st XV between 1946 and 1948. [3]

Playing career

As his father had played for the Pioneer Ruby Football Club in Gore, Archer after leaving high school played his club rugby for them.

He went on to study at the University of Otago in 1949 took a break back in Gore in 1950 during which he played for the Pioneer Senior team.

He returned to his studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1955. [4]

Provincial career

While at the University of Otago he played for the Dunedin Pirates rugby club and in 1953 was selected for the Otago team, eventually playing 24 games for them. [3] He first came to national recognition when he played for Rest of New Zealand, then a New Zealand XV and New Zealand Universities in 1954 in the first five-eighth position. [3] Returning permanently to Gore in 1956 he resume playing for Pioneer, which he continued up until the end of the 1966 season. [5]

His return to Southland saw him selected for the Southland team in 1956 and was captain from 1956 to 1963 during which they won the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki in 1959, and beat the Australian rugby team in 1958 and 1962. [6] While no longer captain he was in the Southland side that beat the British Lions in 1966. [6]

Archer's brother Watson (Wattie) Archer played with him in the Southland team from 1957 to 1963.

All Blacks

He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1955 to 1957. He played 13 matches (in the first five-eighth position) for the All Blacks, including four internationals. He played in the first two tests against Australia in 1955 and was next selected to play the first and third internationals against the 1956 Springboks, missing the second test with a rib injury. He also suffered a shoulder injury in the third test.

He toured Australia in 1957 and while captain (for the game against New England at Gunnedah) he did not make the test side. [7]

He stopped playing in 1966 in order to devote more time to his family. [8]

Coaching

Archer later had two periods as coach of the Southland side, from 1973 to 1975 and 1980 to 1981. [3]

With another former All Black, Ian Smith, he coached the 1971 South Island under-16 side.

Death

Archer died in Auckland on 9 March 2018 at the age of 87. [9] [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mortimer, Hilary. "Hilary Mortimer (nee Archer's) memories of 22 William Street, Gore". Yacck. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Archer, Robin. "Robyn Archer's memories of his childhood". Yacck. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Knight, Lindsay. "Robin Archer". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: A" . Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. ↑ McArthur and Aitken, page 66.
  6. 1 2 McArthur and Aitken, page 69.
  7. ↑ Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Ron, Palenski (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland: Moa Publications. p. 21. ISBN   0-908570-16-3.
  8. ↑ McArthur and Aitken, page 67.
  9. ↑ "Former All Blacks first-five Robin Archer dies". Stuff.co.nz. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "William Archer death notice". Southland Times. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highlanders (rugby union)</span> New Zealand professional rugby union team

The Highlanders is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that founded the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s.

<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">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.

Southland Boys' High School (SBHS) is an all-boys school in Invercargill, New Zealand, and has been the only one in the city since Marist Brothers was merged with St Catherines to form Verdon College in 1982.

<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.

Taranaki Rugby, previously the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, is the governing body for rugby union in Taranaki, New Zealand; Taranaki is a region of New Zealand that covers areas in the districts of New Plymouth and South Taranaki. Established in 1889, they represent the Mitre 10 Cup side, Taranaki Bulls, and Farah Palmer Cup side, Taranaki Whio. It is also affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black and they play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood.

Edward Hughes, was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league footballer who played 9 times as an All Black hooker from 1907 until 1921 and twice for the Kiwis in 1910. His All Black career is unique in that there was a gap of 13 years between test matches, and that he is the oldest player ever to have played for the All Blacks, at age 40 years, 123 days.

<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">Ken Uttley</span> New Zealand cricketer and pathologist

Kenneth Frank McNeill Uttley was a New Zealand cricketer and pathologist.

<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.

Brian John McKechnie is a former "double All Black" - representing New Zealand in both rugby union and cricket. He was born at Gore in Southland and educated at Southland Boys' High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Smith (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player, born 1986

Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.

The 1908 New Zealand rugby league season was the first season that rugby league had been played in New Zealand. Auckland played Wellington in a two match series that was won by Auckland 1-0. Otago and Southland also participated in a two match series which was drawn 1-all. Auckland and Taranaki then drew a two match series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Skinner (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Kevin Lawrence Skinner was a rugby union player from New Zealand who won 20 full caps for the All Blacks, two of them as captain. He was also a heavyweight boxer, winning the New Zealand championship in 1947.

Robert Alexander Holloway is a New Zealand former cricketer. He played 15 first-class matches, including 14 for Otago in the Plunket Shield, during the 1960s as an opening batsman. A good club batsman who is considered to have not fulfilled his potential in representative cricket, Holloway also played for Southland in the Hawke Cup.

The Otago Rugby League Team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Otago Rugby League. They are known as the Whalers. In the past they have been nicknamed the Storm, the Raiders and the 45er's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southland cricket team</span> New Zealand cricket team

The Southland cricket team represents the Southland Region of New Zealand. They compete in the Hawke Cup.

George Gothard Aitken was a rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand – known as the All Blacks – and then Scotland. He was born in Westport, New Zealand, and was selected to play provincially for Buller at the age of 16. After moving to Wellington, Aitken played for the province from 1917, and from there was selected for the All Blacks side that faced South Africa when they toured New Zealand in 1921. After only two Test matches for the All Blacks, both as captain, he was dropped from the team. In 1922 Aitken was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and travelled to England to study at the University of Oxford. He played for the university's rugby club, and from there he was selected for Scotland. He first represented the country in 1924, and in 1925 appeared in all of their Five Nations matches; Scotland won all four of those games, and in doing so achieved their first ever Grand Slam.

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.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.