Andy Dalton
Encyclopedia
Andrew Grant Dalton (born 16 November 1951 in Dunedin
, New Zealand) is an ex-All Blacks
rugby union
player who captained
the side 17 times in tests. He is a second-generation All Black; his father Ray played in two All Blacks tests in the late 1940s.
(not to be confused with Selwyn College
at the University of Otago
), playing for the school's first team in 1968 and 1969 as a prop. He then returned to the South Island
, enrolling at Lincoln College
(then a part of the University of Canterbury
) to study for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. While there, he converted to hooker, and represented Canterbury
at under-20 and senior reserve level.
After graduating, he returned to Auckland, playing for the senior B side at the Eastern club. In 1975, he moved to Pukekohe
to start a career as a farm adviser, and won representative selection for the first time at Counties Manukau
. The following year, which was the first of the National Provincial Championship
(the predecessor to today's Air New Zealand Cup
), he was named captain at Counties.
tour of Great Britain and Ireland in 1978, scoring the only try in their encounter with .
By 1981, he had become the regular All Blacks hooker, and captained the side for the first time when Graham Mourie
was unavailable for the series against . Dalton became the full-time captain upon Mourie's 1982 retirement, most notably leading the All Blacks against the Lions
during their 1983 tour
. He was chosen as captain for their aborted 1985 tour of South Africa, and went on to captain the unofficial Cavaliers
tour of South Africa in 1986. He suffered a broken jaw In the second match of the tour and played no more rugby that season. Dalton was one of the most successful All Blacks captains in history, victorious in 15 of his 17 tests as captain.
He was named captain of the side that would go on to win the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
, but suffered an injury in a practice session that ruled him out of the tournament, leaving the honour of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup to David Kirk
.
, and operates a farm in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand) is an ex-All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who captained
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
the side 17 times in tests. He is a second-generation All Black; his father Ray played in two All Blacks tests in the late 1940s.
Early years
Although born in Dunedin, he was schooled at Selwyn College in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
(not to be confused with Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Otago
Selwyn College is a residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill as a theological college training clergy for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence for students attending the university...
at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
), playing for the school's first team in 1968 and 1969 as a prop. He then returned to the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, enrolling at Lincoln College
Lincoln University, New Zealand
Lincoln University is a New Zealand university that was formed in 1990 when Lincoln College, Canterbury was made independent of the University of Canterbury...
(then a part of the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
) to study for a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. While there, he converted to hooker, and represented Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
at under-20 and senior reserve level.
After graduating, he returned to Auckland, playing for the senior B side at the Eastern club. In 1975, he moved to Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
to start a career as a farm adviser, and won representative selection for the first time at Counties Manukau
Counties Manukau Rugby Union
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory...
. The following year, which was the first of the National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
(the predecessor to today's Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
), he was named captain at Counties.
All Blacks
Dalton earned his first All Blacks cap during their 1977 tour of France. He also played all four tests on their successful Grand SlamGrand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
tour of Great Britain and Ireland in 1978, scoring the only try in their encounter with .
By 1981, he had become the regular All Blacks hooker, and captained the side for the first time when Graham Mourie
Graham Mourie
Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie is a former New Zealand All Black flanker and coach of the Hurricanes. He was one of the great All Black Captains in the late 70s and early 80s...
was unavailable for the series against . Dalton became the full-time captain upon Mourie's 1982 retirement, most notably leading the All Blacks against the Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
during their 1983 tour
1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1983 the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the first time since 1977. The Lions went down to a 4-0 whitewash for only the second time in history - the previous was also inflicted by the All Blacks on the 1966 Lions. Overall the Lions played eighteen matches, winning twelve and...
. He was chosen as captain for their aborted 1985 tour of South Africa, and went on to captain the unofficial Cavaliers
New Zealand Cavaliers
The Cavaliers was the name given to an unofficial New Zealand rugby union team which toured South Africa in 1986.The rebel tour occurred after the official All Black tour planned for 1985 was cancelled due to a legal ruling that it would be incompatible with the NZRFU's legally stated purpose:...
tour of South Africa in 1986. He suffered a broken jaw In the second match of the tour and played no more rugby that season. Dalton was one of the most successful All Blacks captains in history, victorious in 15 of his 17 tests as captain.
He was named captain of the side that would go on to win the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
, but suffered an injury in a practice session that ruled him out of the tournament, leaving the honour of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup to David Kirk
David Kirk
David Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987....
.
After rugby
After his retirement from rugby immediately after the 1987 World Cup, he continued his career in agriculture for a time, but later became a corporate manager. He coached Counties from 1989 to 1991, and was president of the New Zealand Rugby Union from 1999 to 2000. He is now the CEO of the Auckland Rugby Football UnionAuckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
, and operates a farm in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland.