From: ‘OVER THE HILL’ FOR 100 YEARS
In 1920, a kid just out of Ashburton High School came to Christchurch pursuing a jewellery/watchmaker apprenticeship and he joined up with Taylor’s Mistake. The 16-year-old’s name was Alan Robilliard, and when still only 18 he was in the Canterbury Nelson Shield team. Still a teenager, he became assistant instructor (and his dad a vice-president), but had to take a season off in 1924-25: the problem was, he was chosen for the All Blacks, the famous Invincibles, and Alan Robilliard remained a first-choice All Black until injury forced his retirement after the fourth test on the 1928 tour to South Africa. He returned to surf lifesaving, and spent eight years in the 1930s as a committee member.
From Wikipedia
Alan Charles Compton Robilliard (20 December 1903 – 23 April 1990) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing three-quarter, Robilliard represented Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1924 to 1928. In his 27 matches for the All Blacks, three of which were internationals, he scored 25 tries.
Birth name Alan Charles Compton Robilliard
Date of birth 20 December 1903
Place of birth Ashburton, New Zealand
Date of death 23 April 1990 (aged 87)
Place of death Rakaia, New Zealand
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 73 kg (161 lb)
School Ashburton High School
