Peter Johnstone (rugby union)

Peter Johnstone (9 August 1922 – 18 October 1997) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A backrow forward, Johnstone represented Ashburton County while serving in the army [1] and later Otago at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1949 to 1951. He played 26 matches for the All Blacks —10 as captain—including nine internationals,[2] touring South Africa in 1949 and playing all four tests against the touring 1950 British Lions.[3]

Peter Johnstone
Date of birth(1922-08-09)9 August 1922
Place of birthMosgiel, New Zealand
Date of death18 October 1997(1997-10-18) (aged 75)
Place of deathWanaka, New Zealand
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
SchoolMosgiel District High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Number 8
All Black No. 495
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1943
1947–51		 Ashburton County
Otago		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1949–51 New Zealand 9 (3)

He was a key member of the Otago Ranfurly Shield team from 1947–50. He continued to support the Taieri club after his playing days and was coach of the first Taieri team to win the Dunedin premier banner, sharing it with University A in 1955.[4]

Peter saw that the club needed a better ground and clubrooms, and he used his bridge-building business to help develop the new ground beside the Silverstream. It was named in his honour. The club has the best grounds in Otago and they are used when inner-city grounds were too wet to play on. The clubrooms are among the biggest in Dunedin.[5]

Peter was an Otago selector from 1959–61 and a President of the ORFU.[6]

References
  1. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby, p.105
  2. Luxford, Bob. "Peter Johnstone". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby, p.105
  4. Otago Daily Times Friday, 30 May 2008
  5. Ibid
  6. The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby, p.105


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