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Jim Rukutai

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Jim Rukutai
Personal information
Full namePuhipi James Rukutai
Born1877 or 1878
Kāwhia
Died (aged 62)
Onehunga
Playing information
PositionLoose forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909–1910 City (ARL)
1911–19?? Manukau (ARL)
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1909 New Zealand Māori
1910–19?? Auckland
1911–1919 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1921 New Zealand
1922–1937 New Zealand Māori

Puhipi James Rukutai (c.1877 – 11 January 1940) was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who both represented and coached his country. The Auckland Rugby League's minor premiership, the Rukutai Shield, is named after him.

Early years

Rukutai was born at Kāwhia and affiliated to the Ngāti Hikairo hapū of Ngāti Maniapoto. He was educated at St Stephen's School.[1] He started his career playing rugby union and was part of George A. Gillett's Goldfields team that defeated Auckland in 1906.[2] Rukutai was working as a miner at the time.

Playing career

Rukutai played for the City Rovers in the 1909 Auckland Rugby League competition and also toured Australia with the New Zealand Māori team.[3] He first made the New Zealand side in 1911, alongside former Union teammate George Gillett.[2]

Rukutai was the first captain of the Manukau Magpies when they entered the Auckland Rugby League competition in 1911.[4]

He toured Australia with New Zealand in 1911 and 1912 and his career continued after the War when he again toured Australia in 1919. However, Rukutai played in no Test matches as during this time New Zealand played matches against New South Wales and Queensland.

Coaching career

Rukutai coached New Zealand during their 1921 tour of Australia.[2] He remains New Zealand's youngest ever national coach.[5]

He also coached New Zealand Māori between 1922 and 1937. In 1937 he coached the New Zealand Māori to an upset win over Australia.[2]

Later years and death

In 1932 Rukutai served on the Auckland Rugby League board as the Clubs' delegate.[3]

He then served as the first chairman of the New Zealand Māori Rugby League Board when it was formed in 1934.[2]

Rukutai died at his daughter's residence in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga in 1940,[1] aged 62 years.

Legacy

Shortly after his death in 1940, the Auckland Rugby League named their minor premiership the Rukutai Shield.

Rukutai was named one of the New Zealand Rugby League's Legends of League in 2008.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mr. James Rukutai". Evening Post. 12 January 1940. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008. Huia Publishers. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2. ISBN 1-86969-331-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ a b Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  4. ^ Manukau Magpies sportsground.co.nz
  5. ^ Superleague, Volume 6, Issue 4, Edition 28 2011.
  6. ^ Legends of League nzrl.co.nz
Sporting positions
Preceded by Coach
New Zealand Kiwis
1921 		Succeeded by
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