 Davis c. 1951 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1930-01-25)25 January 1930 Whakatāne, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 2 March 2019(2019-03-02) (aged 89) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5.6 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Sacred Heart College, Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keith Davis (25 Jan 1930 – 2 March 2019) was a New Zealandrugby union player who played for bothNew Zealand andNew Zealand Māori. He played forAuckland, and won theRanfurly Shield in his first ever provincial game. After gaining All Blacks selection in 1952, Davis toured with the team to Europe and North America in 1953–54. He played extensively for New Zealand Māori between 1952 and his retirement in 1959; his time with the team included matches against bothSouth Africa and theBritish Lions. Davis was awarded theTom French Cup for Māori player of the year in 1952, 1953 and 1954.[1]
Keith Davis was born inWhakatāne and educated atSacred Heart College inAuckland, where he played for the first XV from 1947 to 1949.[2] He washalf-back, and was selected forAuckland in 1952 after making a number of appearances for the Auckland B side in 1951 and early 1952. Davis' first provincial game was aRanfurly Shield challenge againstWaikato that Auckland won 9–0 to raise the Shield. The side's first defence was against Waikato two weeks later; with Waikato avenging their loss to regain the Shield following a 6–3 victory.[2] Davis was selected for the New Zealand Māori in early 1952, and played with them during their internal-tour of New Zealand. He was subsequently selected for the New Zealand national side—the All Blacks—later that year. He made hisTest debut againstAustralia on 13 September 1952, a match that the All Blacks won 15–8.[2] At the conclusion of the 1952 season he was awarded theTom French Cup for Māori player of the year.[1][2]
In 1953 Davis was selected as one of the half-backs for the All Blacks' tour ofEurope and North America.[2] He was preferred over his cousin,Vincent Bevan, as the starting half-back for the All Blacks' five Tests.[1] Of the five Test matches—againstEngland,France,Ireland,Scotland, andWales—the All Blacks won three; their two losses coming to France and Wales. Davis also played in the All Blacks last match of the British and Irish leg of their tour—againstBarbarian F.C. inCardiff.[2] The All Blacks were behind 5–3 at the end of the first half, but after a Davistry early in the second half to give them a 6–3 lead,[a] before a conversion byRon Jarden. The All Blacks scored a further three tries, with the final one set up by Davis, to eventually win 19–5.[2][3] He was All Black number 546.
After returning from tour, Davis was selected to captain the New Zealand Māori tour of Fiji in 1954.[4] Before leaving for Fiji, the team played six matches against provincial teams in New Zealand. The eight match tour of Fiji included three matches againstFiji; the team won seven of their matches, with the one loss to Fiji inLautoka.[4][5]
The following year Davis was recalled for one Test match against Australia that the All Blacks won 8–0.[2] He did not play any of the All Blacks' matches against the1956 Springboks, but was a reserve in two Tests of the series.[2] The most important New Zealand Māori match of the season was against the touring Springboks—Davis was selected at half-back.[6] The match was lost 37–0,[7] and has been tainted by accusations thatErnest Corbett, the Māori Affairs Minister at the time, had asked the New Zealanders to lose the match.[8] However some members of the Māori side have disputed that Corbett even spoke to their team.[9] The match was described by historian Lindsay Knight as "one of the worst experiences in his [Davis's] career".[2]
Davis toured with the Māori to Australia in 1958, and played all three "Test" matches against Australia.[b] Australia won the first Test, but the second Test resulted in a 3–3 draw.[10][11] However the Māori recovered to win the final Test 13–6 to draw the series.[12][13] On returning to New Zealand, Davis was selected for the All Blacks for the last time. He played in three Tests against the touring Australians; the series was won by the All Blacks two Tests to one. He was not selected for the All Blacks again, and finished his career with 25 games for the side, including 10 Tests.[2]
1959 was Davis' final season of first-class rugby. He finished his career for Auckland, and played for the Māori against thetouringBritish Lions.[2] The New Zealanders lost the game 12–6, but did prevent the Lions from scoring any tries—the only time this was achieved on tour.[14] After retiring from rugby Davis continued to be involved as a coach and selector with both his club side Marist, and also the Māori All Blacks in the 1960s.[2] He was eventually awarded his Testcap at a capping ceremony in 2010, 58 years after first playing for the All Blacks.[15]
Davis died on 2 March 2019.[16]
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| Preceded by | Tom French Memorial Māori rugby union player of the year 1952, 1953, 1954 | Succeeded by |