Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington 126: Dave Harker (Athletic)

Dave Harker was one of the best performing and consistent forwards in Wellington club rugby throughout much of the 1950s and early 1960s.

Harker was a lock who played for the Athletic club. Harker was Athletic’s captain in 1956 and 1957, forming an effective lineout partnership with All Black Nev MacEwan over several years.

An entry in the Rugby Weekly in 1958 read: “D.G Harker’s work in the lineouts is a treat to watch. A first-class taker of the ball and he can stand up to plenty of buffeting.”

The following year this same publication observed: “ MacEwan was unmatched in taking the ball and timed his deliveries to the halfback beautifully, drawing all the forwards in. Harker showed his dominance at the back of the lineout.”

Harker played 80 matches for Wellington every year between 1953-62.

He then moved to Auckland played a further 16 games for Auckland over the next four years.

Harker was born in Wellington two days before Christmas 1933 and attended Wellington Technical College, now Wellington High School, and was in the First XV in 1950.

He left school and joined the Athletic club and soon made his mark in senior rugby whilst still a teenager.

He was elevated into the Wellington A squad in 1953 aged 19 and played 12 matches in a fairytale debut first-class season. This was the year that Wellington won the Ranfurly Shield off Waikato and defended it five times at Athletic Park before losing it to Canterbury at the end of the season – all in a heady seven-week period.

There was magic in the air when Wellington defended the Log o’ Wood against Southland (22-6), East Coast (42-0), Otago (9-3), Taranaki (26-3) and Auckland (23-6) and Harker played in these games at lock.

He played 11 more matches for Wellington in 1954, including in two wins over Auckland (20-13 and 23-14), two over Taranaki (11-8 and 20-16) and his career was established.

He played in well over 50 more fixtures for Wellington over the next several seasons.

The Rugby Weekly talked up Harker’s strong form on the eve of the British Lions home series in 1956, following the annual North-South game that was played at Athletic Park. “Harker not only dominated the lineouts, but he also appeared in the most unlikely places for a lock and collected two very good tries…the sort of game makes him one of the best locks in New Zealand.”

He played in 10 fixtures for Wellington in 1959. On 1 August 1959 he locked Wellington’s scrum in their 12-6 loss to the British Lions.  At the end of that month he scored a try in Wellington’s 20-11 win over Auckland at home and was part of Wellington’s 40-9 win over Otago at home a week later.

Harker was also a North Island representative in 1960 and played for the New Zealand XV that same year and was considered unlucky to miss out on the All Blacks touring party to South Africa in 1960. He played in New Zealand trials in 1953, 1959, 1960 and 1961.

He played club rugby for Athletic in each of the years he was in Wellington up to 1962 but never won the Jubilee Cup.

Athletic were always one of the leading sides in the competition but could never get over the line for a championship victory, with the likes of University, Onslow, Petone and Marist all winning the title in this time.

Perhaps the closest Harker came was in 1959, with Petone, Athletic, Wellington and Marist all in the mix right up to the end before Petone won it outright on the last day of the club season.

Harker’s final match for Wellington was on 29 September 1962 was an 8-20 Ranfurly Shield loss to Auckland at Eden Park.

Moving to Auckland, he played for the Grammar Old Boys Club, winning the Gallaher Shield in 1967 and 1970 (as player-coach) and 1972 in his final year of playing.

He played in Ranfurly Shield defences for his new province against Wairarapa, Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington – losing it to his former province 8-3.

In 1965 he played in his second match against an international touring team, locking Auckland’s scrum in their famous 15-14 win over the Springboks. He also played for Auckland the following year against the British Lions, but lost a second time to them, 16-12.

Later in 1965 he was in Auckland’s team that won back the Ranfurly Shield, beating Taranaki 11-3.

He played his final first-class match in 1972, captaining the New Zealand Barbarians side in one match.

In total, Harker played 116 first class matches and scored 12 tries.

He was an accountant by profession.

Harker Passed away in Auckland on 6 July 2012 aged 78.

Article References:

• Akers, Clive. New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015. New Zealand Rugby Museum, 2016.
• Auckland Rugby. 100 Years of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, Unity Press 1983.
• Chester, R.H & McMillan, N.A.C. The visitors. The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand. Moa Publications, Auckland, 1990.
• Club Rugby – previous article on Wellington’s 1953 season https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2022/08/25/wellington-v-taranaki-1953-the-high-point-of-a-golden-year/
• Rugby Weekly – various editions 1950s and 1960s.
• Veysey Alex & Fox, Bob. Wellington’s Rugby History 1951-1979, Part 2. Tolan Printing Co. 1979.