He first came to prominence with Wilson Whineray’s All Blacks of 1963-64 and won two Test caps at Twickenham and Murrayfield. When he next returned to the United Kingdom three years later it was as an established captain of New Zealand who had already led his country to a 4-nil drubbing of the Lions in 1966. He went on to become one of its greatest ever captains who won 13 matches before losing to South Africa in the First Test of 1970.

Four years later he returned to Twickenham as part of the President’s World XV, arguably the greatest invitation squad ever assembled : Meads, du Preez, de Villiers, Marais, Kirkpatrick, Going, Villepreux were all there, but their chosen skipper was Brian Lochore. It was a fitting tribute to one of the great men of rugby. He captained New Zealand a total of 18 times.

Brian Lochore also coached New Zealand to victory in the first Rugby World Cup.

Greatest Moment

Perhaps the 1967 tour of Europe was his finest rugby hour. Starting in Canada, his All Blacks blazed an unbeaten 16-match trail that culminated in a clean sweep in the Tests before defeat stared them in the face in their seventeenth and final game against the Barbarians. Trailing 3-6 with time rapidly running out it was first the centre Ian MacRae who equalised and then Lochore himself who collected a Baa-Baa’s miss kick 45 yards out and charged back to the 25 and set up the match-winning, tour-settling final try that secured their invincible place in history.

Interesting Facts

Represented Wairarapa from 1957 - 1961 in lawn tennis.

Career Status

1964-1971

Test Caps
Test Points
Test tries
Penalties
Conversions
Drop Goals