Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington 115: Ivan Vodanovich

One of the greats of Marist and Wellington rugby in the 1950s and 1960s, as a player and then coach, selector and administrator.

The Rugby Weekly mentioned Vodanovich on numerous times in despatches on their player happenings page in the 1950s throughout his playing career. Entries such as these were a common theme for the reader:

“I.M.H. Vodanovich is a splendid pack leader – we think there is none better in Wellington. On Saturday he really ‘bounded off’ at times and his forwards responded with alacrity.”

“Vodanovich invariably seems to be one of the best two or three forwards on the ground and the Marist forwards always go with him to a man.”

Ivan Matthew Henry Vodanovich was born in Whanganui on 8 April 1930 and educated at Kaitangaweka School, just south of Te Kuiti. He made his debut for King Country in 1949 before moving down to Wellington and joining the Marist Old Boys club in early 1950.

He came to Wellington as a budding loose forward but was transformed into a prop, where he immediately found his calling.

After playing for Wellington B in in 1950 and again in 1951, the 96kg, 1983cm tall Vodanovich made his Wellington representative debut in 1952 and from 1953 up to his retirement in 1960 he was a regular first choice selection in Wellington’s front row. He would play 99 official first-class matches for Wellington, scoring 13 tries.

Early in his career he was part of the Wellington team that won the Ranfurly Shield off Waikato in 1953, defended it six times in as many weeks and then lost it to Canterbury. He was later part of the side that regained it off Canterbury in 1956 and lost it to Otago in 1957.

He played for Wellington in their 6-8 loss to South Africa in 1956 and in their 6-21 loss to the British and Irish Lions in 1959.

Vodanovich was soon on the radar for higher honours. He played for a Rest of New Zealand team in 1954, a New Zealand XV in 1955 and for the North Island in 1955 (and again in 1960)

1955 was a momentous year for Vodanovich personally. That year he was selected in the North Island team for the annual match against the South and then played for the All Blacks against Australia in all three tests of that series.

He made his test debut at home at Athletic Park on 29 August 1955 and scored a try latching on to a Ron Jarden centring kick on debut in the 16-8 win over the Wallabies. He played in the second and third tests with the All Blacks winning the series 2-1.

He won one Jubilee Cup as a player for Marist Old Boys and was involved in some more ‘nearly’ tilts at the title.

Such as in 1959 when he was Marist’s captain and formed an effective front row partnership with prop Mick Nansett and hooker Mick Horan. The record books show Petone won the Jubilee Cup this year, but it was one of the most tightly contested club seasons ever and if one or two other results had fallen in their favour Marist would have won.

Donaghue and Dive in their Marist Old Boys club history book The First 50 Years tell the story of the following year:

“In 1960 the club notched its third Jubilee Cup, much to the delight of all. The principal architects of the success story were coach Frank Ryan, captain Ivan Vodanovich and vice-captain Cam Stewart. Our 323 points for was the highest aggregate in Wellington while the 96 against was the fewest registered against any side. The team totted up 47 tries with Dennehy and Apanowicz getting 12 apiece.

“….Ivan Vodanovich [was] playing in his last season and what a season it was. After being fit for the extensive All Black trials preceding the South African tour, which selection he must only narrowly have missed, Ivan kept his game at an uncommonly high pitch throughout the season. A great inspiration to the players under him. It was a fitting climax to a club career when he received the Cup from the then WRFU President Mr E.R.G. Steere, who said of our captain that day ‘if he was less of an honest toiler and more of a shiner, he would be far away from New Zealand playing rugby today.’”

This was after Marist had beaten Petone 10-5 in the Jubilee Cup decider, establishing that lead playing into the wind in the first half and then holding off in a torrid second spell.

Vodanovich hung up his boots in 1960, having played 135 first-class matches and scored 17 tries.

In 1961 he was retired from playing but was still training with Marist twice a week.

His playing days might have been over, but his association with the game was far from done.

He was on the Executive of the WRFU between 1964-68.

Moving into coaching, Vodanovich became Marist’s coach in the early 1960s and In 1964 and 1965 he was helping to coach Wellington alongside Bill Freeman.

He coached the North Island team in 1966 and was then the All Blacks  selector in 1967, 1968 and 1969, becoming coach between 1969-71. In that time he took the All Blacks to South Africa and then to hosting the British and Irish Lions in 1971. Both series were lost.

He was on the NZRFU Council 1969-92, and was awarded a Life Membership in 1992. He was also Chairman of the Maori Advisory Board 1981-86.

Vodanovich was also the author of two coaching manuals in 1982.

Vodanovich was a Life Member of Marist St Pat’s from the club’s opening season as MSP in 1970 up to his passing. He died in Wellington on 2 September 1995, aged 65.

REFERENCES

• Akers, Clive. New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015. New Zealand Rugby Museum, 2016.
• Donaghue, Paul & Brian Dive. The First 50 Years. Marist Old Boys Rugby Football Club, 1969.
• Knight, Lindsay. All Blacks profile of Ivan Vodanovich https://stats.allblacks.com/all-players/profile/Ivan-Vodanovich-AB-568
• Rugby Weekly – news item and snippets from various editions, 1950s.
• Veysey, Alex and Fox, Bob. Wellington’s Rugby History 1951-1979, Part 2. Tolan Printing Co, 1979.
• Wellington v South Africa 1965 – previous article on this website https://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/story.php?id=1402