Craig Wickes
Encyclopedia
Craig David Wickes was a former New Zealand
rugby player. He is notable as being the second-youngest All Black ever and the only player selected while still at high school.
and his family moved to Palmerston North when he was around 10. He attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
. He was also a sprinter, with best times of 10.9 seconds for the 100m sprint and 23.0 seconds for 200m.
He was selected as a winger for the Manawatu
rugby team in 1979, aged 17, and also played for New Zealand Colts.
In 1980 he was selected as a reserve for the All Black team to play a non-test match against Fiji
at Auckland in 13 September 1980 (making him 18 years 200 days). The selection policy for this match excluded all players who had played against Australia
and France
earlier in the season. He replaced injured winger Ken Taylor
with 14 minutes remaining in the game, but made little impact.
In 1981 he sustained a series of knee injuries which prevented him from going further. He returned to the Manawatu squad for four games in 1986, but a recurrence of the knee injuries ended his career.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby player. He is notable as being the second-youngest All Black ever and the only player selected while still at high school.
Career
Wickes was born in WhakataneWhakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
and his family moved to Palmerston North when he was around 10. He attended Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Boys' High School is a state secondary school for boys located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location:Palmerston North Boys' High School is located on Featherston Street, between the intersections of Rangitikei Street and North Street....
. He was also a sprinter, with best times of 10.9 seconds for the 100m sprint and 23.0 seconds for 200m.
He was selected as a winger for the Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
rugby team in 1979, aged 17, and also played for New Zealand Colts.
In 1980 he was selected as a reserve for the All Black team to play a non-test match against Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
at Auckland in 13 September 1980 (making him 18 years 200 days). The selection policy for this match excluded all players who had played against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
and France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
earlier in the season. He replaced injured winger Ken Taylor
Ken Taylor (rugby)
Kenneth John Taylor is a former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was successful at provincial level for Hawke's Bay and in the New Zealand Colts team, but only played a single non-test match for the All Blacks.-Career:...
with 14 minutes remaining in the game, but made little impact.
In 1981 he sustained a series of knee injuries which prevented him from going further. He returned to the Manawatu squad for four games in 1986, but a recurrence of the knee injuries ended his career.