{"id":30997,"date":"2026-05-27T12:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/?p=30997"},"modified":"2026-05-27T12:15:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:15:02","slug":"pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-127-winston-mccarthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/2026\/05\/27\/pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-127-winston-mccarthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington 127: Winston McCarthy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cListen\u2026! It\u2019s a goal!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the most memorable spoken moments in New Zealand sporting sporting broadcast history, and uttered by Wellington rugby commentator Winston McCarthy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Winston John McCarthy<\/strong> was a leading rugby personality in the middle years of the twentieth century and he remains one of the most famous rugby broadcasters in New Zealand, as well as a prodigious writer and author.<\/p>\n<p>McCarthy was born in Wellington on 10 March 1908 and was educated at the Marist brothers\u2019 schools at Newtown and Thorndon and then St Pat\u2019s Town and was a halfback in the First XV in 1924 and 1925.<\/p>\n<p>He left school and played club rugby in Palmerston North, representing Manawatu B, before moving to Pahiatua. He later played in Masterton and was a Bush representative in nine games between 1930-32. He then played rugby league for Waiuta on West Coast in 1936. His playing career was cut short due to a persistent shoulder injury, but his love of the game and of sport burned brightly.<\/p>\n<p>McCarthy joined radio in Wellington in 1937 and started broadcasting rugby in 1941.<\/p>\n<p>His first rugby commentary was the Quadrangular college final that year between Christ\u2019s College and Whanganui Collegiate.<\/p>\n<p>His first provincial broadcast was Wellington v Auckland at Athletic Park in 1942.<\/p>\n<p>He got his big break as the official broadcaster during the Kiwis Army Team tour in 1945\/46. The Kiwis played 38 matches and won 32, including victories against England, Wales and France and were popular and well-followed \u2013 and well-listened to with all their games broadcast and called by McCarthy. These were the first live broadcasts to New Zealand from the U.K.<\/p>\n<p>In a biography published on Te Ara, the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, Spiro Zavos wrote:<\/p>\n<p><em>When the Kiwis played England at Twickenham, Herbie Cook, the Kiwis\u2019 fullback, took his time over a long kick at goal and McCarthy scrambled to fill in the seconds. \u2018If this goes over,\u2019 McCarthy said, desperately ad libbing, \u2018you\u2019ll hear the roar of the crowd back in New Zealand\u2019. When Cook finally kicked the ball, McCarthy shouted: \u2018Listen \u2026 it\u2019s a goal!\u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p>The article went on to describe his style:<\/p>\n<p><em>For his broadcasts Winston McCarthy prepared information charts on players and kept massive scrapbooks, but there was also a strong element of showmanship in his radio style. He enjoyed doing party pieces: his Harry Lauder impersonation was so accurate the famous entertainer offered to include him in his act. During his commentaries, McCarthy would switch roles from play-by-play caller to that of the broadcasting spectator. \u2018Put it in again, sonny,\u2019 he said if the ball came out of a scrum, and \u2018goodness gracious me\u2019 when something untoward happened. The listener was drawn into the game.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Returning home, he was a regular post-war club and provincial commentator, while calling the Australian series home and away in 1946 and 1947. He went to South Africa in 1949 and called the home series against the British Lions in 1950. He then travelled with the All Blacks to Britain in 1953\/54. This was followed by the inbound Australian series in 1955.<\/p>\n<p>His high point was calling the home All Blacks-Springboks series in 1956, which the All Blacks won 3-1.<\/p>\n<p>Listen to his famous call of All Blacks fullback Don Clarke kicking a penalty in New Zealand\u2019s 11-5 fourth test win over South Africa in 1956:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nzhistory.govt.nz\/media\/sound\/sound-winston-mccarthy-commentating\">https:\/\/nzhistory.govt.nz\/media\/sound\/sound-winston-mccarthy-commentating<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Keith Quinn, in a 2014 article on his website wrote:<\/p>\n<p><em>In 1956 when the Springboks toured for their epic series Winston was so popular only the four tests were allowed by the NZRU to be broadcast live. He was affecting gate takings around the country. Club games in all cities had to be played in the mornings so that everyone could rush home to thrill to his call in the afternoons. Apart from the tests all other afternoon tour games were delayed until 5 p.m replays.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>He became the regular commentator of test matches through to the end of 1959. His 38<sup>th<\/sup> and final test was the fourth test between the All Blacks and the British Lions in 1959. The Lions won that 9-6, but New Zealand won the series 3-1. As well as the tests, he also commentated countless big games and other internationals, such as the Lions v Wellington and Lions v New Zealand Juniors at Athletic Park in the weeks before his final All Blacks broadcast.<\/p>\n<p>He continued to commentate club and provincial rugby until the early 1970s.<\/p>\n<p>McCarthy also covered the 1950 and 1954 Commonwealth Games and the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956.<\/p>\n<p>As well as a commentator, McCarthy was an author of several books.<\/p>\n<p>These included Broadcasting with the Kiwis (1947), The All Blacks on trek again (1950), Round the world with the All Blacks (1954), Rugby in my time (1958), Haka! the All Blacks story (1968), and Listen\u2026! It\u2019s a goal! (1973). He also wrote Haka: the Maori rugby story (1983) in conjunction with R. J. Howitt.r<\/p>\n<p><em>Rugby in my time (pictured below)<\/em> is a well written insight into rugby and its personalities in the pre and post-war era in New Zealand.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-30998\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-2-book-cover.jpg?resize=468%2C662&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-2-book-cover.jpg?resize=212%2C300&amp;ssl=1 212w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-2-book-cover.jpg?resize=91%2C128&amp;ssl=1 91w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-2-book-cover.jpg?resize=23%2C32&amp;ssl=1 23w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-2-book-cover.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>McCarthy died in Auckland on 2 January 1984, aged 75.<\/p>\n<p><strong>REFERENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Akers, Clive. New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015. New Zealand Rugby Museum, 2016.<\/li>\n<li>Chester, R.H &amp; McMillan, N.A.C. The visitors. The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand. Moa Publications, Auckland, 1990.<\/li>\n<li>McCarthy, Winston. Rugby in My Time. A.H. &amp; A.W. Reed. Wellington, 1958.<\/li>\n<li>Quinn, Keith \u2013 Reflections on Winston McCarthy, 2014. <a href=\"https:\/\/keithquinnrugby.com\/news-comment\/time-again-to-pay-tribute-to-my-1-broadcast-hero-winston-mccarthy\/\">https:\/\/keithquinnrugby.com\/news-comment\/time-again-to-pay-tribute-to-my-1-broadcast-hero-winston-mccarthy\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Te Ara \u2013 Encyclopedia of New Zealand Biography of Winston McCarthy, by Spiro Zavos, 2000: <a href=\"https:\/\/teara.govt.nz\/en\/biographies\/5m5\/mccarthy-winston-john\">https:\/\/teara.govt.nz\/en\/biographies\/5m5\/mccarthy-winston-john<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Veysey Alex &amp; Fox, Bob. Wellington\u2019s Rugby History 1951-1979, Part 2. Tolan Printing Co. 1979.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-2\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cListen\u2026! It\u2019s a goal!\u201d One of the most memorable spoken moments in New Zealand sporting sporting broadcast history, and uttered by Wellington rugby commentator Winston McCarthy Winston John McCarthy was a leading rugby personality in the middle years of the twentieth century and he remains one of the most famous rugby broadcasters in New Zealand,&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,60,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-rugby","category-latest-club-rugby-news","category-rugby-history"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winston-McCarthy-Headline-Photo.jpg?fit=889%2C598&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbDiON-83X","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31000,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30997\/revisions\/31000"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}