Doug Rollerson
![]() Rollerson in 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Douglas Leslie Rollerson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 14 May 1953 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Papakura, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 3 May 2017 | (aged 63)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 82 kg (181 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Wesley College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Massey University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Douglas Leslie Rollerson (14 May 1953 – 3 May 2017) was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player, and rugby union executive.
Rugby union
Primarily a fullback and first five-eighth, Rollerson represented Manawatu at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1976, 1980 and 1981.
He played 24 matches for the All Blacks including eight full internationals.[1]
Rollerson played for Manawatu in their 16–22 loss to the Irish team of 1976. He did not score as the Freyberg Old Boys winger Sheridan Murphy did the goal kicking that day.
Against the 1977 British Lions Doug scored 3 penalties for Manawatu-Horowhenua in their 12–18 loss and 1 conversion and 3 penalties for the New Zealand Universities team in their 21–9 victory. He did not play for the All Blacks in that series.
Rollerson was called in to replace an injured Eddie Dunn at first five-eighth for the second test against the 1981 Scottish team which the All Blacks won comprehensively by 40–15. He then played for Manawatu in their 19–31 loss against the 1981 Springboks, scoring 1 conversion and 3 penalties. Manawatu led for the first hour of the match and according to Chester and McMillan “Manawatu’s hero was Rollerson, who pressured Botha all day. His quick thinking led to Manawatu’s first try.”. Rollerson was selected as first five-eighth in all three tests against the Springboks and over the series scored a try (in the first test), 2 conversions, 1 penalty and a dropped goal. He shared the goal kicking with Allan Hewson in the third test, Rollerson took the goal kicks from the left hand side and Hewson those on the right.[2]
He later served as the chief executive of the North Harbour Rugby Union from December 1997 to March 2004.[1][3]
Rugby league
From 1982, Rollerson spent two seasons with the North Sydney Bears, playing fullback, mostly in reserve grade.[1]
Death
He died on 3 May 2017 after a long battle with cancer.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Akers, Clive. "Doug Rollerson". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ Chester & McMillan, R.H. & N.A.C. (1990). The Visitors. The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. ISBN 1-86947-060-5.
- ^ "Rugby: Rollerson steps down as North Harbour CEO". New Zealand Herald. 4 December 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ Former All Black Doug Rollerson dies after long battle with cancer
- 1953 births
- 2017 deaths
- Deaths from cancer in New Zealand
- People educated at Wesley College, Auckland
- New Zealand rugby union players
- New Zealand international rugby union players
- Manawatu rugby union players
- Massey University alumni
- Rugby union fullbacks
- Rugby union fly-halves
- New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in England
- North Sydney Bears players
- Rugby league fullbacks
- New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in Australia
- New Zealand referees and umpires
- New Zealand rugby league players
- People from Papakura
- New Zealand rugby union biography, 1950s birth stubs