James Allan (rugby union) facts for kids
James Allan
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| Date of birth | 11 September 1860 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Taieri, Otago, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 2 September 1934 (aged 73) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Hāwera, Taranaki, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Otago Boys' High | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Allan (born September 11, 1860, in East Taieri, New Zealand – died September 2, 1934, in Hāwera, New Zealand) was a famous New Zealand rugby union player. He played eight games for the All Blacks, which is New Zealand's national rugby team. People often called him the Taieri Giant because of his size and strength.
James Allan was a very important player in rugby history. He played in the very first game ever for the New Zealand team. Because of this, the New Zealand Rugby Union sees him as the first ever All Black player.
Playing for the All Blacks
James Allan played as a forward in rugby. A forward is a player who usually stays in the middle of the field. Their job is to win the ball and push forward.
He played for his home province, Otago, for six seasons. This was from 1881 to 1886.
The 1884 Tour
All of James Allan's eight games for the All Blacks happened during a special tour. This tour was in 1884 to New South Wales, Australia. On this tour, he scored three tries. A try is when a player grounds the ball in the opponent's goal area. It's how teams score points in rugby.
He was one of the most important players on that tour. He played in eight out of the nine games the All Blacks had. All these games were played in just 23 days, which is a very busy schedule!
His Playing Style
James Allan was known for being a very strong forward. People who watched him play said he was "consistently in the vanguard." This means he was always at the front of the action.
They also said he was "never far away from the ball." This shows he was always involved in the game. He was also described as being "as hard as nails," meaning he was very tough.
During his time playing for Otago, he became a very well-known player. He even had three brothers who also played for Otago.
Early Life and Education
James Allan went to school at Otago Boys' High School. This is a well-known school in New Zealand.
