Ken Gray Jersey Series –  Scotland Jersey # 8, 1964

At the Ken Gray induction into the Porirua Hall of Fame. Joy Gray. Keryn Martin, Anita Baker (Mayor of Porirua), Lauren Grant (Granddaughter of Oliver Grant) and Cragie Smith (PPRFC Chair). 

• By Adam Julian

The mystery began in 2019. Keryn Martin and Logan Ainsworth were preparing the walls of the Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby clubrooms for a significant refurbishment when they removed eight framed jerseys.

Seven of them bore the inscription “Presented by K Gray” and another black jersey was simply entitled “New Zealand Women’s Rugby” with no other detail.

This raised the question: Who wore the jerseys? And how could their stories inspire those at the club?

So began the ‘Ken Gray-Ericka Rere Legacy Project’ to acknowledge two champion Paremata-Plimmerton players and the whenua they played on.

Rere was the Hammerheads first Black Fern and started three games for New Zealand in the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991.

Ken Gray ranks among the greatest All Black props of all time. Gray gifted eight of his Test rugby jerseys to the Paremata-Plimmerton Rugby Club in 1983.

Until 2025 the identities of those who wore the jerseys were unknown.

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Ken Gray Jersey Series –  Scotland Jersey # 8, 1964

Date: Saturday, 18 January 1964

Fixture: New Zealand: 0 vs Scotland: 0

Referee: Ray Williams (Ireland)

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland Jersey # 8: Oliver Grant

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TEAMS

All Blacks (1-15): Wilson Whineray, Dennis Young, Ken Gray, Allan Stewart, Colin Meads, Kelvin Tremain, John Graham, Brian Lochore, Kevin Bricose, Bruce Watt, Ralph Caulton, Mac Herewini, Paul Little, Malcolm Dick, Don Clarke

Scotland (1-15): David Rollo, Norman Bruce, Brian Neil, Billy Hunter, Peter Brown, Jim Telfer, Pringle Fisher, Oliver Grant, John Rodd, Gregor Sharp, Ronnie Thomson, Jim Shackleton, Ian Laughland, Christy Elliot, Stuart Wilson

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MATCH

In front of a raucous crowd the All Blacks were denied a Grand Slam on a frosty day where handling was difficult. The Rugby Museum reported.

“The lighter Scottish pack matched the All Blacks in the loose and, perhaps fortunately for Scotland, Don Clarke had a rare off-day with his boot. He missed five penalty attempts and neither side was able to take advantage of the other’s mistakes.”

Terry McLean noted.

“The forwards foraged effectively, in the second half they ran the Scottish pack backwards at more than one scrummage, and their vigour was sustained until the end. But the power was not quite as authoritative as before and certainly did not compare with that developed against Wales and England.”

The final whistle went after a surge upfield by Don Clarke came to nothing when his kick ahead was caught by his opposite number.

World Rugby Hall of Fame loose forward Jim Telfer told the Telegraph in 2017: “It was a very good match, a classic of its kind despite being scoreless. I’ve seen reports that say we could have won, but we didn’t deserve anything more than a draw, although we were a good second best.”

Telfer coached Scotland to the Grand Slam in 1984 and, as assistant to Ian McGeechan, to his second Grand Slam in 1990. In his third term as head coach from 1998 to 1999, Scotland won the final Five Nations Championship. He also headed the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 1983 and was an assistant coach of the 1997 Lions who won a series in South Africa.

The All Blacks have been held scoreless eight times in internationals. The other occasions were against Wales in 1905, Australia (1910), South Africa (1921, 1928, 1960), England (1936), and France (1954).

Despite the draw the 1963-43 tour was a tremendous success for the All Blacks with 34 wins from 36 matches.

British Rugby Writer Stephen Jones often antagonised New Zealand fans with his criticisms of the All Blacks but in 2020 The Sunday Times scribe rated Gray in his all time XV.

“Gray was one of the all-time greats, a man around whom a mystique continues to grow. He was before his time in being able to scrummage magnificently but also play a part around the feld. Not far short of the great Colin Meads in terms of folklore and ability, seemed then and now to typify what it means to be an All Black.”

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OLIVER GRANT

From the late-1950s through to the mid-1980s, Hawick was a powerhouse of Scottish rugby winning 18 Scottish Premierships between 1954 and 1987.

The ‘Green Machine’ was renowned for their robust forward play and Oliver Grant capped six times from 1960 to 1964 was a chip of the old block.

He played internationally with Hawick teammates Adam Robson, Hugh McLeod, Billy Hunter, Jack Hegarty, Norman Suddon and brother Derrick.

Primarily a No 8, Grant gained his first two caps playing lock during the 1960 Five Nations championship. On his debut he was a late call-up for the injured Frans Ten Bos, and played stoically in a gutsy 6-5 win. Ronnie Thomson scored a try with Ken Scotland kicking a drop goal.

Afterward, teammate Hugh McLeod ran the length of the pitch to retrieve the match ball for Grant, presenting it in the dressing room with the immortal words: “Ave been coming here for eight years and couldnae buy a win…..and yow ya bugger dae it on your first shot!”

His second cap was won against England at Murrayfield, before being selected for the first short tour of its kind when Scotland went to South Africa, where he played the Test match, packing down against the great Doug Hopwood, a player he tried to emulate. Scotland put on a tenacious display, losing only 18-10 to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth.

Following the death of his father in April 1961, Grant slipped out of favour with the Scottish selectors, until 1963.

That year Grant was tremendous for the South of Scotland in a narrow 8-0 defeat against the All Black’s at Mansfield Park. In the South side were nine Hawick players, including six in the pack.

He won his place back in the Scottish side to face France, winning that game 10-0, and the following month retained his place as Scotland locked horns with the mighty All Blacks once again, when he played his part in an inspired and ferocious pack that held New Zealand to a 0-0 draw.

His final cap was against Wales that season, at Cardiff Arms Park.

He was selected for the Barbarians Easter Tour in 1962, when he played against both Cardiff and Newport, scoring a try against the latter.

Work commitments took Oliver south to Yorkshire in 1965 where he helped the locals win the Yorkshire Cup that season.

After retiring Oliver and his family moved south to London, where he was involved with London Scottish. During his time at the Athletic ground Oliver nurtured and coached many talented players, creating a team which regularly challenged at the very top tier of the English club game.

Oliver’s canny coaching style was recognised by Ian Robertson the Cambridge University captain and Scottish international. Oliver helped Cambridge win the 1967 Varsity match for the first time in four seasons against Oxford.

It was discovered the jersey on display belonged to Grant by Iain Dixon, a local Plimmerton resident and supporter of the rugby club. The proud Scotsman reached out to Hawick Rugby Club regarding the legacy project only to discover that the president of the club is Malcolm Grant, son of Oliver Grant.

Not only that, but he was able to share the fact that his dad had swapped jerseys after the match in 1964. He had Gray’s 1964 jersey along with a jersey from Springboks legend Doug Hopwood. Grant describes his jerseys as his “pride and joy.”

The All Blacks jersey is no longer black, fading to a light gray, as his dad wore it at most training sessions when he coached London Scottish Rugby Club in the 1970’s.

On 7 February 2025,  Malcolm’s daughter and Hawick Committee rep Lauren Grant came to the Paremata Plimmerton club to get her picture with grandad’s jersey. This was also the day Ken was inducted in the Porirua Hall of Fame. Lauren was able to attend that celebration and meet Ken’s son Andrew, and widow Joy.

Grant died on 22 June 2022. He is survived by his wife, Sally, daughters Vivian and Hannah and son Malcolm.

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GRANT’S SCOTLAND TEST MATCHES

February 27, 1960: Ireland, Lansdowne Road, Dublin, 6-5

March 19, 1960: England, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 12-21

April 30, 1960: South Africa, Boet Erasmus Stadium, 10-18

January 4, 1964: France, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 10-0

January 18, 1964: New Zealand, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 0-0

February 1, 1964: Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, 3-11

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References: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/borders-rugby-fans-in-mourning-for-ex-scottish-international-oliver-grant-following-death-at-age-of-88-3730298 Men in Black, Willie’s Army, Terry McLean, ESPN Scrum, Scotland Rugby Website, Malcolm Grant.