John Pullin
Encyclopedia
John Vivian Pullin is a former England international rugby union
player. A hooker, he played club rugby for Bristol RFC and captained the England national rugby union team
for which he played 42 times between 1966 and 1976. He also won 7 full caps for the British Lions
and has the distinction of having beaten the All Blacks
with three different sides, England, the Lions and the Barbarians.
. As an international, his first match was in 1966, and two years later he was selected for the South Africa Lions tour, in which he played three tests. In 1971, he was again selected for the Lions, and was part of the side that defeated New Zealand.
Then, in an eighteen month period, he captained England to victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the first time a European national captain had ever done this. South Africa were beaten at home 18-9 at Ellis Park in 1972, Australia defeated by 20 points to 3 at Twickenham, and then New Zealand 16-10 in Auckland. Pullin proved to be a talisman for defeating the All Blacks as in the same year, he was also in the Barbarians side that defeated the All Blacks 23-11.
Pullin was also the England captain who took England to Ireland after both the Welsh and Scots had refused because of the Troubles. Of the 18-9 defeat suffered at the hands of the Irish, he said: "We're not much good but at least we turned up.".
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. A hooker, he played club rugby for Bristol RFC and captained the England national rugby union team
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
for which he played 42 times between 1966 and 1976. He also won 7 full caps for the British 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...
and has the distinction of having beaten the 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....
with three different sides, England, the Lions and the Barbarians.
Rugby career
Pullin's career reached the highest levels of achievement possible in rugby union prior to the establishment of the Rugby World CupRugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. As an international, his first match was in 1966, and two years later he was selected for the South Africa Lions tour, in which he played three tests. In 1971, he was again selected for the Lions, and was part of the side that defeated New Zealand.
Then, in an eighteen month period, he captained England to victories over South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, the first time a European national captain had ever done this. South Africa were beaten at home 18-9 at Ellis Park in 1972, Australia defeated by 20 points to 3 at Twickenham, and then New Zealand 16-10 in Auckland. Pullin proved to be a talisman for defeating the All Blacks as in the same year, he was also in the Barbarians side that defeated the All Blacks 23-11.
Pullin was also the England captain who took England to Ireland after both the Welsh and Scots had refused because of the Troubles. Of the 18-9 defeat suffered at the hands of the Irish, he said: "We're not much good but at least we turned up.".