Victor Yates (rugby) facts for kids
| Full name | Victor Moses Yates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 15 June 1939 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kaitaia, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 31 August 2008 (aged 69) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Whangārei, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Kaitaia College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | John Yates (brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career
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Playing information
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Victor Moses Yates (born June 15, 1939 – died August 31, 2008) was a famous New Zealand rugby football player. He played for his country in rugby union, which is one type of rugby.
His brother, John, also played rugby for New Zealand, but in a different type called rugby league. Their father, Moses, was also a rugby player for North Auckland.
Vic Yates: A Rugby Star
Vic Yates was a talented athlete from Kaitaia, New Zealand. He became well-known for his skills in two different kinds of rugby. His family had a strong connection to the sport.
Playing Rugby Union
Vic Yates went to Kaitaia College when he was younger. He played rugby union for a team called North Auckland. In 1960, his team won the Ranfurly Shield. This is a very important trophy in New Zealand rugby. Teams challenge each other to win and hold onto it.
Yates was so good that he was chosen to play for the All Blacks. This is New Zealand's national rugby union team, known worldwide. He played nine games for the All Blacks in 1961 and 1962. Three of these were "Test matches," which are the most important international games.
A French rugby player named Pierre Albaladejo once said that Vic Yates was the best player he ever played against. This shows how respected Yates was in the rugby world.
Switching to Rugby League
Later in his career, Vic Yates decided to try a different kind of rugby. He switched to rugby league. He played for a team called the Ponsonby Ponies.
He also represented Auckland in rugby league. He played for Auckland in 1966, 1967, and 1968. This showed his ability to excel in both major forms of rugby.
