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Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington 075: Kenneth Elliott

Versatile and hard-running Lock-loose forward Kenneth Elliott played services rugby both overseas and at home during the war and two tests against Australia in 1946 in the All Blacks’ return to international rugby after a seven-year hiatus.

“Red” Elliott was raised in the capital and was educated at Clyde Quay School and at Wellington College.

He joined the Wellington College Old Boys Club upon leaving school and had made his Senior Third Grade debut for them 1939 and was part of their Senior A squad in 1940. Despite the start of the war, a full season was completed by the end of August and the WCOB Tigers finished third in the new second tier Hardham Cup behind winners Marist Brothers Old Boys with four wins, five draws and seven losses for the year.

Elliott grew to be 188cm (6 foot 2) and 97kg, so it was undoubtedly his physical attributes that helped his early ascent. Reports mention him as a lineout specialist.

He joined the war effort and the New Zealand Scottish Regiment, and played in numerous Service teams and matches over the next few years, both overseas and at home from 1944.

Returning to Wellington, he played for the Combined Services (Central Group) side against Wellington, with the provincial team winning 21-15.

He later played five matches for Wellington in the same season, against Auckland (twice), Canterbury (twice) and Manawatu. Additionally, he played for the North Island in their 28-3 win over South Island in Christchurch.

In 1945 he played another season as they finished fourth equal with Petone on 18 points in the Jubilee Cup, behind winners Athletic on 24, second placed Poneke-Oriental on 21 and Army 20.

He made another four appearances for Wellington, including the first of two matches against Canterbury, which Wellington won 11-6 and 23-6 respectively. Of note, that second match was re-scheduled as Wellington had arrived by ferry at Lyttleton and were greeted by 25cm of snow on the wharf and the game was consequently called off that afternoon.

He played his third and final season for Wellington in 1946 and played in several big matches.

On 11 August he was in the Wellington team which beat the famous 2 NZEF Kiwis 18-11 in front of 35,000 at Athletic Park. The Kiwis had been on a 33-match European tour in 1945/46 and more recently had been touring New Zealand and were unbeaten up to this game, their final match before disbanding.

He played in the 1946 North-South match on Athletic Park – but this was called off early owing to heavy surface flooding in the south-eastern section of the ground.

The year marked the first international touring team since the 1937 Springboks, with the Australians in New Zealand and playing matches against domestic opposition and two tests.

Elliott was involved in both tests and Wellington’s game against Australia – all in the space of a fortnight – and played a different position in each match.

He played at lock in the first test in Dunedin on 14 September and scored a key first half try in a tight contest. The All Blacks led 13-8 at halftime and pulled away in the second spell to win 31-8.

On 21 September he played blindside flanker for Wellington in the tour match, which Australia won 16-15 in drizzly conditions in front of a local crowd of 25,000.

On 28 September he lined up at No. 8 in the second test in Auckland, which the All Blacks won 14-10.

Elliott’s Wellington career concluded the following Saturday with their final match of the year being against the Centurions Club in Wellington, which Wellington won 26-16 and he was a try-scorer.

Elliott moved to Feilding and then Hamilton for his work as a A farm appraiser and represented Manawatu from the University club in 1947 and Waikato in 1949 out of the Hamilton Old Boys club in 1949.

He later settled in Christchurch and died there on 19 February 2006, aged 83.

References

  • Akers, Clive. New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015. New Zealand Rugby Museum, 2016.
  • Chester, R.H. and McMillan, N.AC. The Visitors. The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand. Moa Publications, Auckland, 1990
  • Donoghue, Tim. Athletic Park, a Lost Football Ground. Tim Donoghue Publications, Wellington 1999.
  • Evening Post and Dominion newspaper reports, August-September 1946
  • Swan, A.C. History of New Zealand Rugby Football, Volume 1 1870-1945. Christchurch. Whitcombe and Tombs 1948.
  • Swan, A.C. History of New Zealand Rugby Football. Vol. 2 1946-1957. Whitcombe & Tombs, Wellington 1958.
  • Swan, Arthur C.; Jackson, Gordon F. W. (1952). Wellington’s Rugby History 1870 – 1950. Wellington, New Zealand: A. H. & A. W. Reed.
  • Headline photo: “Photograph of K. G. Elliott (aka Red Elliott) in All Black Uniform, taken by Crown Studio Ltd of Wellington.”

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