Alan Blake Explained

Alan Blake
Birth Name:Alan Walter Blake
Birth Date:3 November 1922
Birth Place:Carterton, New Zealand
Death Place:Masterton, New Zealand
Ru Position:Flanker
Height:1.880NaN0
Weight:92kg (203lb)
Ru Nationalteam:
Ru Nationalcaps:1
26
Ru Nationalpoints:(0)
Ru Nationalyears:1949
1948–50
Ru Province:Wairarapa
Ru Provinceyears:1941–60
Ru Provincecaps:108
Occupation:Freezing works supervisor[1]
School:Wairarapa College

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]

Notes and References

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