| Jack Taiaroa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | John Grey Taiaroa Teone Wiwi Taiaroa[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 16 September 1862 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Otakou, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Death Place: | Otago Harbour, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Position: | Halfback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 1.780NaN0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 82kg (181lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Nationalcaps: | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Nationalpoints: | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Nationalyears: | 1884 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Province: | Otago Hawke's Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ru Provinceyears: | 1881–84 1887–89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | Lawyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives: | Hōri Kerei Taiaroa (father) Tini Kerei Taiaroa (mother) Te Matenga Taiaroa (grandfather) Dick Taiaroa (brother) Thomas Ellison (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School: | Otago Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Module: |
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John Grey Taiaroa (16 September 1862 – 31 December 1907), of Ngāi Tahu descent, was a New Zealand rugby union player. A halfback, he played nine matches for the New Zealand in 1884—the warm-up in Wellington and all eight matches of the tour of New South Wales; New Zealand won all eight games. There were no test matches on the tour, as Australia did not play their first test match until 1899.[2] Taiaroa was the highest try scorer of the tour.
Born in Otakou, the son of Hōri Kerei Taiaroa, a New Zealand Member of Parliament, Taiaroa played school-boy rugby for Otago Boys' High School and then for the Otago provincial side. He went on to set a national record in the long jump and represent Hawke's Bay in first-class cricket during the 1890s as an attacking batsman.[3] [4] [5]
In 1886 Taiaroa hit the headlines after signing his father's name on a promissory note. Despite a warrant being issued for his arrest, it was not served and the charges were later dropped.[6] [7]
He spent most of his working life as a lawyer in Hastings. He was accidentally drowned in Otago Harbour on 31 December 1907[8] and his body was recovered at Karitane beach two weeks later.[9]