 Lochore in 1963 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Brian James Lochore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1940-09-03)3 September 1940 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Masterton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 3 August 2019(2019-08-03) (aged 78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Masterton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (209 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Wairarapa College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sir Brian James LochoreONZ KNZM OBE (3 September 1940 – 3 August 2019) was a New Zealandrugby union player and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, theAll Blacks.[1] He played atnumber 8 andlock, as well as captaining the side 46 times (18 of those tests).[1] In 1999, Lochore was inducted into theInternational Rugby Hall of Fame.[2]
Born inMasterton on 3 September 1940, Lochore was the son of Alma Joyce Lochore (née Wyeth) and James Denniston Lochore.[1][3] He was first educated at Opaki Primary School and thenWairarapa College where he was a member of the 1st XV in 1956.[4] In 1963, Lochore married Pamela Lucy Young.[3]
Lochore played domestic rugby for Masterton andWairarapa, debuting for both in 1959. After playing six tests, including all four tests of the 1965South African tour of New Zealand, he was selected as captain by coachFred Allen for theLions tour in 1966. He continued as captain until his retirement from playing in 1970 (although at the selectors request he returned to play one game in 1971 for an injury-hit All Black side).
Lochore was also a Wairarapa tennis representative from 1957 to 1961 and then 1979 to 1980.[4]
His involvement in the game did not end with his playing days. He coached Masterton before moving on to coach Wairarapa-Bush in 1980. Lochore became an All Black selector in 1983 before taking the side to victory in the inauguralWorld Cup during his coaching tenure from 1985 to 1987. Lochore continued to be involved in All Black rugby, firstly managing the team in the1995 World Cup, and later as one of the All Black selectors.
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Lochore was also an advocate for conservation and was Chair of theQueen Elizabeth II National Trust[5] for eight years from 2003 to 2011, an independent charitable trust that partners with private landowners to protect natural and cultural heritage sites on their land with covenants.
Lochore was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to rugby football, in the1970 Queen's Birthday Honours.[6] In the1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed aKnight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), for services to sport and the community.[7]
TheLochore Cup, contested in New Zealand's domestic competition, theHeartland Championship, is named in his honour.[8] OnWaitangi Day (6 February) 2007, Lochore was inducted into theOrder of New Zealand as an additional member (ONZ); the Order of New Zealand is the country's highest honour.[9]
In his biography,Sir Colin Meads wrote: "at the peak of his career, from 1966 through to 1969, he was everything I would want in a number 8. He spared himself, not an ounce working away in the tight-loose, covering, winning us great lineout ball in the deep, backing and filling and playing his part in the rolling drive-and-feed. As a captain he could be self-effacing, for this was the very nature of the man".[4]
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In June 2019, Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew announced Lochore had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. Lochore died on 3 August that year, aged 78.[10]
Lochore's funeral was held on 8 August atMemorial Park, Masterton, with around 2,500 people attending.[11] He is buried in Masterton's Riverside Cemetery.[12]
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by | All Blacks captain 1966–1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | All Blacks coach 1985–1987 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |