Peter Egan

Two weeks ago the burly Celtic front row forward, Peter Egan, played his 80th game of Rugby for Nelson province. In these days of big representative programmes, 80 games for a province is quite commonplace in many centres. The unusual feature of Peter Egan's record, however, is that it has taken him 15 years to compile this total. Peter, now 34, played junior football for Celtic before joining the senior side in 1954, and the same year was selected for the provincial side. He was a regular member of both teams until 1961 when he gave up Rugby for three years upon marrying. He returned to Nelson representative Rugby in 1964 and has been a member of the team since then. As well he has been a member of the combined Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bay-Motueka sides that have played against Australia (1955), the Spring-boks (1956 and 1965), the Lions, 1959, and a reserve in the side against the Lions in 1966. Other major fixtures in which he has played have been the South Island trials in 1958 and the New Zealand Maoris.

Of all these games, the two games that have the most vivid memories for him were in 1954, when, as a member of the Nelson team, he helped win the Seddon Shield from West Coast (12-6); and in 1959 when Nelson issued a very strong challenge for the Ranfurly Shield against Taranaki (lost 31-14 after leading 11-6 half time). On both occasions Nelson was the underdog.

Our pix below show Peter (ringed) in the combined side that played against the Lions in 1959 and below in action against the West Coast earlier this month.