Waka Nathan: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:53, 24 September 2021
 Nathan, c. 1961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 24 September 2021 (aged 81) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Otahuhu College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Waka Joseph Nathan (8 July 1940 – 24 September 2021) was New Zealand rugby union player who played rugby union for the New Zealand national team the "All Blacks" as a flanker.[1] His fearless feats on the field earned him the nickname "The Black Panther".
Nathan was born in Auckland, the son of Samuel Taia Nathan and Irene Huakore (née Randall). He attended Mangere Central Primary School and Otahuhu College.[2]
He first played rugby as a child, for his primary school and secondary school. It was while playing for the Otahuhu College 1st XV that Waka came to prominence, along with his long-time friend Mack Herewini, when they played an outstanding match against Seddon Tech during a curtain raiser to the 1956 Springboks versus All Blacks Test match at Eden Park. The following year Otahuhu College won the Auckland Schoolboys competition. Nathan went on to play for the Otahuhu Rugby Club.
He played as an Auckland Rugby Union representative, making his debut at the age of 19. He made 88 appearances and scored 51 points. He is well remembered for scoring a last-minute try against Canterbury to set up his teammate Mike Cormack to convert the try and retain the Ranfurly Shield in a game that finished 19-18 in 1960. The Auckland Rugby Union pre-season club cup is named in Nathan's honour.
Waka went on to debut for the New Zealand Māori in the same year appearing for the team until 1966. He first played for the New Zealand Māori and then the All Blacks from 1962 to 1967, as a breakaway. During his All Blacks career, he was on tour to Australia, the British Isles and France. Despite having a broken jaw, he scored 11 tries in 15 matches on that tour.
Injury reduced the world-class flanker to play 14 tests for the All Blacks with 14 wins in the black jersey, finishing his test career unbeaten with 23 tries. The late Sir Colin Meads described Waka as “the most virile runner with the ball in hand”.
After his retirement from playing, he had been a selector and manager of the New Zealand Māori between 1971-77 and managed the New Zealand Māori on their tour of Wales in 1982.
Waka was given the honour from New Zealand Rugby to run onto the field and start the proceedings for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
The Otahuhu Life Member was elected President of the Auckland Rugby Union in 2003 later moving to Patron of the Auckland Rugby Board.
Waka was honoured by Auckland Rugby for his commitment and devotion to the union as a player and administrator with the creation of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup which Auckland Rugby’s premier club teams compete for.
References
- ^ "Phil Gifford: The most influential Māori rugby figure of all time". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Waka Joseph Nathan". Māori Sports Awards. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
External links
- Waka Nathan at the All Blacks (archived)