John Joseph Stewart
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Stewart (18 July 1923 – 15 November 2002), MBE 1983, was a New Zealand Rugby Union coach and administrator, and secondary school teacher. His obituary said that in 1973 when he took over as All Blacks
coach, he was the right man at the right time for a team that was scarred and in crisis from a home loss to the British Lions in 1971, a controversial British tour in 1972-73 and a cancelled Springbok tour in 1973.
'JJ' was New Zealand selector and All Black coach 1973-76. For the tour of Australia in 1974 he ditched many stalwarts, picking Andy Leslie
as captain and 15 new caps including Bryan Williams
and Bruce Robertson
. Later Williams said he was a breath of fresh air, Tane Norton
said he brought a new era to our game, and Laurie Mains
said he could always think outside the square. He prepared All Black teams for 11 tests from 1973 to 1976; and left with six wins, one draw and four losses (three in South Africa in 1976, with blatantly biased refereeing). He had been a provincial coach in Taranaki 1963-69 (the province held the Ranfurly Shield for three years) and Wanganui 1970-71, and a secondary school coach in Taranaki. He was North Island selector in 1972 and 1977, and on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union
council 1985-90.
He was born in Northcote, Auckland and died (of cancer) in New Plymouth. He was educated at Monte Cecelia and Sacred Heart
colleges in Auckland, Auckland University College, Auckland Teachers' Training College and Massey University
(BA). He earned a degree at 71, and was a Massey University councillor for 12 years.
He was a teacher at New Plymouth Boys' High School
1948-69, then Principal of Flock House
near Bulls 1969-83. He stood as Labour
candidate in the 1978 Rangitikei by-election, in a traditional National seat that was won by Bruce Beetham
for Social Credit. He married Claire Campbell in 1961; she was later a mayor of New Plymouth. They left a daughter and four sons.
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....
coach, he was the right man at the right time for a team that was scarred and in crisis from a home loss to the British Lions in 1971, a controversial British tour in 1972-73 and a cancelled Springbok tour in 1973.
'JJ' was New Zealand selector and All Black coach 1973-76. For the tour of Australia in 1974 he ditched many stalwarts, picking Andy Leslie
Andy Leslie
Andrew Roy "Andy" Leslie MNZM is a former All Black captain and number eight. On 26 April 2007 he was elected as the president of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union....
as captain and 15 new caps including Bryan Williams
Bryan Williams
Bryan Williams, MBE is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach of the Samoan national rugby team....
and Bruce Robertson
Bruce Robertson
Bruce Richard Robertson is a former freestyle and butterfly swimmer from Canada, who competed for his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1972 in Munich...
. Later Williams said he was a breath of fresh air, Tane Norton
Tane Norton
Rangitane Will "Tane" Norton MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He played at the hooker position...
said he brought a new era to our game, and Laurie Mains
Laurie Mains
Laurence William 'Laurie' Mains MNZM is a former rugby union footballer and coach who represented New Zealand. Mains' representative career started when he first played for Otago in 1967. He made his All Blacks début in 1971, against the British and Irish Lions. His last Test was against Ireland...
said he could always think outside the square. He prepared All Black teams for 11 tests from 1973 to 1976; and left with six wins, one draw and four losses (three in South Africa in 1976, with blatantly biased refereeing). He had been a provincial coach in Taranaki 1963-69 (the province held the Ranfurly Shield for three years) and Wanganui 1970-71, and a secondary school coach in Taranaki. He was North Island selector in 1972 and 1977, and on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union
New Zealand Rugby Football Union
The New Zealand Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand, it was founded in 1892, 12 years after the first Provincial Unions in New Zealand, and in 1949, became an affiliate to the International Rugby Board, the governing body of Rugby Union for the world...
council 1985-90.
He was born in Northcote, Auckland and died (of cancer) in New Plymouth. He was educated at Monte Cecelia and Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart College, Auckland
Sacred Heart College is a secondary school in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a Catholic, Marist College set on of land overlooking the Tamaki Estuary in Glen Innes.- History :The college was opened in 1903 in Ponsonby, by the Marist Brothers...
colleges in Auckland, Auckland University College, Auckland Teachers' Training College and Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
(BA). He earned a degree at 71, and was a Massey University councillor for 12 years.
He was a teacher at New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. It was founded in 1882 and celebrated its 125th Jubilee in 2007....
1948-69, then Principal of Flock House
Flock House
Flock House was an agricultural and farm training school in Bulls, Rangitikei District, New Zealand from 1924 until 1987.From 1924 to 1937 sons of British seamen that had been killed or wounded during World War I were brought over, trained at Flock House, and placed on farms in New Zealand, to...
near Bulls 1969-83. He stood as Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
candidate in the 1978 Rangitikei by-election, in a traditional National seat that was won by Bruce Beetham
Bruce Beetham
Bruce Craig Beetham was an academic and politician from New Zealand, whose career spanned the 1970s and early 1980s.A lecturer at Hamilton's University of Waikato and at the Hamilton Teacher's Training College, he was elected leader of the Social Credit Party in 1972, at a time when the party was...
for Social Credit. He married Claire Campbell in 1961; she was later a mayor of New Plymouth. They left a daughter and four sons.
Reference
- Obituary in Evening Post (Wellington) of 21 November 2002.