John Drake (rugby union) explained

John Drake
Birth Name:John Alan Drake
Birth Date:1959 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Death Place:Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Weight:99kg (218lb)
Ru Position:Prop
Ru Nationalyears:1980–82
1985–87
Ru Nationalteam:NZ Universities
Ru Nationalcaps:
8
Ru Nationalpoints:
(4)
Ru Provinceyears:1981–87
Ru Province:Auckland
Ru Provincecaps:85
School:Auckland Grammar School

John Alan Drake (22 January 1959 – 13 December 2008) was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who represented the All Blacks and Auckland as a tighthead prop.

He played twelve times for New Zealand including eight test matches. He debuted for the All Blacks on the 1985 tour of Argentina playing in the 56–6 thumping of Mar del Plata. Drake was a key member of the 1987 All Black team which won the 1987 Rugby World Cup, playing in five of the six matches including scoring a try in the semi-final victory against Wales and playing in the final against France.[1]

He retired at the end of the 1987 season while only 28 and later became a newspaper columnist and television commentator. Drake was educated at Auckland Grammar School. He died suddenly at his home, aged 49, on 13 December 2008.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Drake . Knight . Lindsay . New Zealand Rugby Union . 13 December 2015.
  2. News: Former All Black John Drake dead at 49 . 13 December 2008 . Stuff . 30 October 2008.