During the Second World War, Roper served overseas with the Royal New Zealand Navy and played in six matches for the New Zealand Services XV in England.WATCH: The oldest living All Black celebrates his 100th birthday
Video here https://twitter.com/i/status/1690116140675338244 WATCH: The oldest living All Black celebrates his 100th birthdayNew Zealandâs oldest living All Black, Roy Roper, turned 100 on Friday, and he celebrated the special occasion with his family and friends as well as members of the Taranaki Rugby Football Union. Roper, who played as an outside back, is the first All Black to celebrate his 100 birthday, and he represented New Zealand in five Tests between 1949 and 1950, scoring three tries. Born in Åwhango â which is also the birthplace of Chiefs and All Blacks lock Josh Lord â in 1923, Roper attended New Plymouth Boysâ High School and he made his provincial debut for Taranaki in 1946. On Friday, Roper, who is All Black number 515, was presented with two special jerseys. One was from the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, and his former club, New Plymouth Old Boysâ Rugby Club, and the other one was from New Zealand Rugby, which was an All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2023 jersey. Roperâs only HakaDuring the Second World War, Roper served overseas with the Royal New Zealand Navy and played in six matches for the New Zealand Services XV in England. He was even selected for a Combined Dominions team during that war and also represented the Australian Air Force against the British Liberation Army. âWe flew in and played in Brussels,â Roper told the All Blacksâ official website. âThe only time I did the Haka was at Parc des Princes against the French, Paris University side.
âWhen we arrived, they were doing circuits of the ground. Struth we thought, âwhat are they doing?â They were big, fit, fast, and beat us.â After shining for Taranaki on a tour of New Zealandâs South Island in September 1949, he caught the attention of Archie Strang, who was a former All Black and Southland-based national selector. âI played a blinder and scored two tries against Southland mid-week,â said Roper. âThe selector was there and noticed. I had a guy come up to me at the after-match when I was holding a sausage and bread in one hand and a beer in the other and said, âYouâre in.â I said: âIn what?â âThe All Blacksâ, he replied.â via Blogger https://ift.tt/ea72Ghg August 13, 2023 at 01:15PM |
AuthorJohn Currin served 15 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy and has retained an interest in naval, marine, military and happenings around the world. Archives
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