Dave Gallaher’s name is etched in the soul of New Zealand rugby after his leadership of the All Blacks on their 35-match odyssey around Europe and North America in 1905-06. Originally from Ireland - his family, then known as ‘Gallagher’, emigrated when he was five years-old - he became a New Zealand hero off the sporting field as well as on it. He served as a corporal in the Boer War, rising to the rank of sergeant-major, but, tragically, was killed at the battle of Passchendaele in World War One. As a player he had won Auckland provincial honours before his first military service and, after it, was selected for the New Zealand tour to Australia in 1903. Gallaher started out as a hooker but became a wing-forward, or ‘rover’, a controversial positional development in rugby union. With the All Blacks packing down as 2-3-2 he was effectively a second scrum-half, feeding the ball into the scrum before the swift heel was collected by the official scrum-half. After that he would fly around the field in pursuit of the ball. As a captain he was famed for his discipline. After the great tour of 1905-06 Gallaher stopped playing and became a provincial and then national selector. With his All Black vice-captain Billy Stead, he also wrote The Complete Rugby Footballer, still regarded as a seminal work in rugby literature.

Greatest Moment

Dave played in New Zealand’s first-ever test match, against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground in 1903; New Zealand won 22-3.

Interesting Facts

After his death (4 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium), the Auckland Rugby Union inaugurated the Gallaher Shield, the premier club competition in the province.

Career Status

1903-1906

Test Caps
Test Points
Test tries
Penalties
Conversions
Drop Goals