Alan Blake

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Alan Blake
Birth nameAlan Walter Blake
Date of birth(1922-11-03)3 November 1922
Place of birthCarterton, New Zealand
Date of death31 October 2010(2010-10-31) (aged 87)
Place of deathMasterton, New Zealand
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight92 kg (203 lb)
SchoolWairarapa College
Occupation(s)Freezing works supervisor[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1941–60 Wairarapa 108 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1949
1948–50
New Zealand
New Zealand Māori
1
26
(0)

Alan Walter Blake (3 November 1922 – 31 October 2010) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Blake represented Wairarapa at a provincial level. He played for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in a single test match in 1949. Despite not having any Māori ancestry, Blake played 26 matches for New Zealand Māori and captained the side in 1950.[2] He had an African American grandfather.[3]

During World War II, Blake served as a trooper with the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade from 1943, and saw action in Italy.[4] At the end of the war, he toured with the New Zealand Army rugby team, known as the "Kiwis", appearing in 24 matches.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wairarapa Electoral District: main roll of persons entitled to vote for Members of Parliament of New Zealand. 1972. p. 23.
  2. ^ a b Knight, Lindsay. "Kiwi Blake". New Zealand Rugby Museum. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Death of former All Black Kiwi Blake". Radio New Zealand News. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Alan Walter Blake". Online Cenotaph. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 3 November 2015.