Jock Butterfield
Encyclopedia
John Rutherford "Jock" Butterfield was a New Zealand rugby league
footballer of the 1950s and 60s who has been named amongst the finest that country produced during the 20th century. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played his club football in various places in New Zealand
, New South Wales
and Queensland
. Butterfield held the record for most test caps for the New Zealand national team
until overtaken by Gary Freeman. In 2007 he was named at hooker in New Zealand's rugby league team of the century.
's rugby league club and also represented the West Coast.
Butterfield then moved to Christchurch
, playing for the Sydenham
club in the Canterbury Rugby League
from 1953 and also representing Canterbury. At this time he was first selected to represent New Zealand at Greymouth
's Wingham Park, scoring a try in the 20-14 second test win over Great Britain. He went on to play for the Kiwis in the first Rugby League World Cup in 1954
as a second-row forward. Touring Great Britain and France with the Kiwis in the winter of 1955-56, Butterfield switched to hooker and also toured Australia in 1956. He appeared at the next World Cup in 1957
as well.
Butterfield returned to the West Coast in 1958 to work in the coal mines. Rejoining Brunner Rugby League Club, he captain-coached the side to the Thacker Shield
championship that year. The following year he again toured Australia with the Kiwis. In 1960 he played for New Zealand in another World Cup
. He led Brunner to another championship in 1963 and also toured Australia. He'd been trying to join Australian club Manly-Warringah
but the move was blocked by the NZRL. Butterfield played his final test for the Kiwis that year. He had played in 99 games, including 36 tests, for New Zealand, a record that still stands.
and moved to Australia at the age of 32. After one season with the Sydney club he moved to the country, where he captain-coached Leeton
in the Reverina competition
. Butterfield ended up playing in the Foley Shield competition for Mount Isa and Cloncurry in Queensland's outback until his retirement in the early '70s.
Butterfield remained in Queensland and in 2001 was inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League. He died in Brisbane on 14 February 2004 aged 72. A regional Queensland youth rugby league tournament was named after him.
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...
footballer of the 1950s and 60s who has been named amongst the finest that country produced during the 20th century. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played his club football in various places in New Zealand
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...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Butterfield held the record for most test caps for the New Zealand national team
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...
until overtaken by Gary Freeman. In 2007 he was named at hooker in New Zealand's rugby league team of the century.
New Zealand
Born in Taylorville, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, Butterfield played at the nearby township of BrunnerBrunner, New Zealand
Brunner is a town in the northwest of New Zealand's South Island. Together with Taylorville and Dobson to the south-west, it had a population of 672 at the 2006 census. It is 12 kilometres to the east of Greymouth, on the south bank of the Grey River. It is on the Midland Line railway near its...
's rugby league club and also represented the West Coast.
Butterfield then moved to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, playing for the Sydenham
Sydenham, New Zealand
Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located two kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city’s main street, Colombo Street...
club in the Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
from 1953 and also representing Canterbury. At this time he was first selected to represent New Zealand at Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
's Wingham Park, scoring a try in the 20-14 second test win over Great Britain. He went on to play for the Kiwis in the first Rugby League World Cup in 1954
1954 Rugby League World Cup
The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup". The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.The...
as a second-row forward. Touring Great Britain and France with the Kiwis in the winter of 1955-56, Butterfield switched to hooker and also toured Australia in 1956. He appeared at the next World Cup in 1957
1957 Rugby League World Cup
The second Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane....
as well.
Butterfield returned to the West Coast in 1958 to work in the coal mines. Rejoining Brunner Rugby League Club, he captain-coached the side to the Thacker Shield
Thacker Shield
The Thacker Shield is a rugby league football trophy awarded on an annual basis to the winner of a match between the champion clubs of the Canterbury Rugby League and West Coast Rugby League.-History:...
championship that year. The following year he again toured Australia with the Kiwis. In 1960 he played for New Zealand in another World Cup
1960 Rugby League World Cup
The 1960 Rugby League World Cup was the third staging of the tournament and the first Rugby league World Cup to be held in Great Britain. The same format as used in 1957 was used, with a group stage leading to a final table....
. He led Brunner to another championship in 1963 and also toured Australia. He'd been trying to join Australian club Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
but the move was blocked by the NZRL. Butterfield played his final test for the Kiwis that year. He had played in 99 games, including 36 tests, for New Zealand, a record that still stands.
Australia
After being cleared to do so by the NZRL, in 1964 Butterfield signed with NSWRFL Premiership side Manly-WarringahManly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
and moved to Australia at the age of 32. After one season with the Sydney club he moved to the country, where he captain-coached Leeton
Leeton, New South Wales
Leeton is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Leeton is situated approximately 550 km west of Sydney and 450 km north of Melbourne in the productive Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Leeton is administered by Leeton Shire Council...
in the Reverina competition
Group 20 Rugby League
Group 20 is a rugby league competition based around the surrounding areas of Leeton and Griffith in New South Wales. The competition is played in five grades, these being the under 16s , the under 18s , womens league-tag , Reserve Grade and the XXXX Gold First Grade.-Current Clubs:-...
. Butterfield ended up playing in the Foley Shield competition for Mount Isa and Cloncurry in Queensland's outback until his retirement in the early '70s.
Butterfield remained in Queensland and in 2001 was inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League. He died in Brisbane on 14 February 2004 aged 72. A regional Queensland youth rugby league tournament was named after him.