Opawa rugby name their ‘starting XV’

The forthcoming Opawa rugby club reunion, to be staged on June 1-4 2023, has prompted former club members to get their heads together and come up with an all-time Black Cloud team chosen from throughout the different eras.

Among the starting XV are former All Blacks Phil Clarke, Jack Best, Alan Sutherland and Anton Oliver, while Maori All Black Jim Joseph will anchor the scrum from tighthead prop with All Black trialist Tris Hegglun named as the skipper at loosehead.

The Opawa all-time team is: Fullback; Gerry Rayner (1950/60s). Wings; Phil Clarke (1960s) and Jack Davie (1970s). Centre; Wally Fairclough (1900s).

2nd Five; Tardy Lane, (vice captain) (1920/30s). 1st Five; Knox Welsh (1940s). Halfback; Hooks Connelly (1910/20s). No 8; Alan Sutherland (1960/70s) Openside Flanker; Jack Best (1930/40s). Blindside flanker; Spud O’Brien (1910/20s). Locks; Fred Bennett (1940s) and Bloke Shultz (1950/60s). Tighthead Prop; Jim Joseph (1950/60/70s). Hooker; Anton Oliver (1990s). Loosehead Prop; Tris Hegglun (captain) (1930/40/50s). Reserves; Gary Lowe (1960s hooker); Nat Cooper (1950s prop, lock, No 8); Grant Harrison (1970/80s prop, lock, No 8); Bob Dobson (1920/30s loose forward); Screw Hounsell

(1920s all positions); Pat Moran (1940/50s halfback); Ian Johnston (1900s centre, wing, fullback); Ian Stark (1980s 1st five, 2nd five, fullback). The team will be coached by Two Bob Casey (1920/30s) and managed by Andy Jackson (1970/80s).

The Opawa “selectors” then issued a challenge to the region’s past and present clubs to select a team capable of taking on their squad in a hypothetical fivematch series across different eras. With so many good players to choose from, the Opawa “selectors” also came up with a B side. Opawa B: Fullback; Jack O’Brien (1900/10s). Wings; Lindo Patchett (1930s) and C E Costello (1900/10s). Centre; Teddy O’Ro- urke (1930s). 2nd five; John Smith (Vice Captain) (1940/50s).

1st five; Sam O’Brien (1950/60s).

Halfback; Alex Macdonald (1960s). No 8; Doug Galloway

(1900s). Openside; Arthur Henry (1910/20s). Blindside; Wera Stafford (1960s). Locks; Leo Simpson (1940s) and Greg Brimble (1980s). Tighthead; Jock Fawcett (1920s). Hooker; Tom O’Sullivan (1930s). Loosehead; Wiss Satherly (captain) (1920s). Reserves; Props, Wally Kupa (1950/60s) and Lou Clouston (1900s). Hooker; Paul O’Fagan (1990s). Lock; Gerard Dietrichs (1960s). Loose forward; Dago Rush (1910s). Halfback/1st Five; Johnny O’Rourke (1900/10s). Midfield Backs; Carl Riley (1910/20s). Outside Backs; Julian Hounsell (1950s). The ‘B’ squad will be coached by F T Connor (1950/60/70/80s) and managed by Algie Dunckley (1910/20/30/40/50/60/70/80s).

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