Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington 117: Russell Watt

J.R. [James Russell] Watt was a leading midfield and outside back in Wellington club and provincial rugby over several seasons as well as an All Black wing who made three tours overseas with the national side.

Watt attended Otago Boys’ High School school he represented the Kaikorai club in Dunedin before making his debut for Otago in one game in 1955. The following season, 1956 and now aged 20, he scored seven tries in 10 appearances in his maiden first-class season.  This included in him gaining his first taste of international rugby when he lined up at centre for Otago against the touring Springboks in a 14-9 defeat.

He also played for the South Island against the North that year and was gaining a reputation as a skilled and composed and fast-finishing outside back and a goal-kicker.

Next stop for Watt, who had employment as a bank officer, was Southland and one season in 1957 playing for the Gore Pioneer club and nine appearances for the Stags.

It was out of Southland that he first made the All Blacks for their 1957 tour of Australia and made his All Blacks debut in an non-international against New South Wales He played the first of his 11 games for the All Blacks in 1957.

It was at this point that he made his way to Wellington where he joined the Athletic club and started his eight-year playing association with Wellington’s second oldest club.

He was immediately selected in the Wellington representative team, and he would go on and play 58 games for Wellington A between 1958-64, scoring 18 tries and as a goal-kicker amassing a total of 226 points for the province.

As well as the All Blacks, Watt played seven matches and scored eight tries for the New Zealand Juniors (U23s) in 1958 on their tour to Japan. He made his test debut in 1958, against the Wallabies in Christchurch.

He was Wellington’s main goal-kicker in 1958 and racked up a number of tries and points that season. For example, against South Canterbury Wellington won 48-22 and Watt kicked eight conversions and scored two tries for 22 points (26 points today). In the 41-3 win over Wairarapa he scored a hat-trick of tries and kicked seven conversions for 23 points (29 points today).

He missed playing against the British Lions in 1959 but played for Wellington and was the team’s vice-captain and centre against them in a 6-12 defeat. The week before he had kicked five penalties and 17 points in Wellington’s 20-17 win over Canterbury.

The high point of his career was the All Blacks tour to South Africa in 1960, in which he flourished and was one of the leading players.

In his book about the South Africa tour, A.C Parker had high praise for Watt, writing of the player nicknamed ‘Cruiser’:

“One of the Successes of the side…soon established himself as the number one wing. His covering was superb, and he must certainly have saved quite as many tries as he scored (seven).

“His sense of responsibility made him a valuable player on attack, and he showed the ability to beat his man with an outside swerve at pace.

“In a line playing the orthodox passing game, he would have crossed for many more than seven tries and his good form came as a surprise to the New Zealand party.”

Watt played 19 of 26 games on this tour – the same number as MacEwan and just one fewer than fullback Don Clarke and lock/flanker Colin Meads who played the joint most.

He remained at the top of his game and played the first test against the touring five-nations champions France.

However, he was sent off and incurred a suspension whilst playing club rugby for Athletic in between the first and second tests, which meant he missed the second test in Wellington.

This test became known as the hurricane test for its appalling conditions and was famous for fullback Don Clarke kicking a freakish sideline conversion in the wind to win 5-3.

In 1962 he was picked for his second tour of Australia. He played both tests and in the second in Sydney scored his one and only test try. That proved to be his final time in black.

He scored 28 tries in his 42 All Black appearances between 1957 and 1962. This included nine test appearances in total.

He continued playing for Wellington in 1963 and 1964, often kicking goals and often playing in the midfield as well as wing.

Watt retired from first-class rugby at the end of the 1964 season, having played 158 first-class games, scored 83 tries and 637 points overall.

He continued to play for the Athletic club for another season, and on 7 August 1965 he was a leading player in their side alongside MacEwan that won the Jubilee Cup and the Senior Championship title for the 14^th time in their history.

Watt was assistant selector and the team’s second-five and MacEwan chief selector in their title winning side.

Watt scored 9 of Athletic’s 12 points in the 12-3 win over University to take the title in what was considered a minor upset with both teams tied on 28 competition points and having both only dropped one game each, before hanging up his boots and retiring.

Athletic scored 268 points and conceded 99 and won 15 of 16 competition matches.

Dominion writer Alex Veysey wrote this about the side afterwards.

“New MacEwan’s men won the cup with consistently good rugby, sound and basic whether forward or back. Few scoring opportunities were allowed to go begging, and few were the holes in the defence.

“Russell Watt was the rock of the line, and was it my imagination or was he running faster than I have seen him when he scored that first try on Saturday?

“Watt has given his club magnificent service; a forthright footballer and who became increasingly fervent in the club’s interests.”

Watt passed away in Upper Hutt aged 86.

REFERENCES

• Akers, Clive. New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015. New Zealand Rugby Museum, 2016.
• Chester, R.H & McMillan, N.A.C. The visitors. The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand. Moa Publications, Auckland, 1990.
• MacEwan, Nev & Coogan, Seamus. Wellington Athletic Football Club World Tour 1966. Massey University, P.N. 2016.
• Parker, A.C. The All Blacks Juggernaut in South Africa. Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. New Zealand 1960.
• Rugby Weekly – various editions 1950s
• Veysey Alex & Fox, Bob. Wellington’s Rugby History 1951-1979, Part 2. Tolan Printing Co. 1979.