Jim Rukutai
Encyclopedia
Puhipi James "Jim" Rukutai was a New Zealand
rugby league
player and coach who both represented and coached his country
. The Auckland Rugby League
's minor premiership, the Rukutai Shield, is named after him.
and was part of George A. Gillett
's Goldfields team that defeated Auckland in 1906. Rukutai was working as a miner at the time.
competition and also toured Australia with the New Zealand Māori team
. He first made the New Zealand side in 1911, alongside former Union teammate George Gillett.
Rukutai was the first captain of the Manukau Magpies
when they entered the Auckland Rugby League competition in 1911.
He toured Australia with New Zealand in 1911 and 1912 and his career continued after the War
when he again toured Australia in 1919. However, Rukutai played in no Test matches as during this time New Zealand played matches against New South Wales
and Queensland
.
during their 1921 tour of Australia.
He also coached New Zealand Māori
between 1922 and 1937. In 1937 he coached the New Zealand Māori to an upset win over Australia.
board as the Clubs' delegate.
He then served as the first chairman of the New Zealand Māori Rugby League Board when it was formed in 1934.
named their minor premiership the Rukutai Shield.
Rukutai was named one of the New Zealand Rugby League
's Legends of League in 2008.
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 league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player and coach who both represented and coached his country
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
. The Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's minor premiership, the Rukutai Shield, is named after him.
Early years
Rukutai started his career playing rugby unionRugby 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...
and was part of George A. Gillett
George A. Gillett
George Arthur Gillett was a renowned New Zealand multi-code footballer of the early 20th century and a dual-code rugby international...
's Goldfields team that defeated Auckland in 1906. Rukutai was working as a miner at the time.
Playing career
Rukutai played for the City Rovers in the 1909 Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition and also toured Australia with the New Zealand Māori team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
. He first made the New Zealand side in 1911, alongside former Union teammate George Gillett.
Rukutai was the first captain of the Manukau Magpies
Manukau Magpies
The Manukau Magpies are a rugby league football club based in Manukau, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1910.-History:...
when they entered the Auckland Rugby League competition in 1911.
He toured Australia with New Zealand in 1911 and 1912 and his career continued after the War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when he again toured Australia in 1919. However, Rukutai played in no Test matches as during this time New Zealand played matches against New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and Queensland
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
.
Coaching career
Rukutai coached New ZealandNew Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
during their 1921 tour of Australia.
He also coached New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
between 1922 and 1937. In 1937 he coached the New Zealand Māori to an upset win over Australia.
Later years
In 1932 Rukutai served on the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
board as the Clubs' delegate.
He then served as the first chairman of the New Zealand Māori Rugby League Board when it was formed in 1934.
Legacy
Shortly after his death in 1940, the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
named their minor premiership the Rukutai Shield.
Rukutai was named one of the New Zealand Rugby League
New Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
's Legends of League in 2008.