Rod Gray [All Black #43]
 Roderick Gray, born and educated in Masterton, played in fifteen of Wairarapa’s nineteen games during the 1891-1897 seasons; he was unable to travel on the 1894 southern tour of two fixtures, and missed two other matches whilst in Australia.
He was a very fine utility forward, being described as “a splendid specimen of the fearless, dashing type of forward that any side can do with”. He took part in the first-ever Trial, held to select the New Zealand side for Australia in 1893, but was passed over. However, before the tour ended a call was made for reinforcements to strengthen the team, and “Roddy” Gray, together with another Wairarapa forward, W. D. Watson, and two others, were sent over, arriving in time to play in the final two matches, including the crucial third fixture with New South Wales. New Zealand won, Roderick Gray scoring two tries and giving an outstanding display, bearing out the opinion that he should have been in the original selection. “Roddy” Gray was firstly a member of Masterton Club, and then Masterton Union Club when his Club and Red Star Club amalgamated. A farmer, he was also a fine athlete, said to be the best miler in Wairarapa. Profile courtesy Wairarapa-Bush RFU. |
| FULL NAME | Roderick Gray |
| BORN | Saturday, 22 October 1870 in Masterton, New Zealand |
| DIED | Sunday, 27 May 1951 in Taratahi |
| POSITION | Forward |
| LAST SCHOOL | Masterton School |
| RUGBY CLUB (First made All Blacks from) |
Masterton |
| PROVINCE | Wairarapa |
| ALL BLACK DEBUT | Wednesday, 26 July 1893 v Western Districts at Bathurst aged 22 years, 277 days |
| ALL BLACK TESTS | 0 |
| ALL BLACK GAMES | 2 |
| TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES | 2 |
| STARTING POSITIONS | |
| ALL BLACK GAME POINTS | 6pts (2t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m) |
| TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS | 6pts (2t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m) |
| ALL BLACK NUMBER | 43 |
ALL BLACK GAMES THAT GRAY PLAYED(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced |
| Click on the date below to view the Match Card |
1893 |
| 26 Jul vs Western Districts at Bathurst 24-5 |
| 29 Jul vs N.S.W. at Sydney 16-0 |
POINTS SCORED FOR THE ALL BLACKS |
t | c | p | dg | pts |
| vs N.S.W., 29 Jul 1893 | 2 | – | – | – | 6 |
| Totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
|
Gray played in no test matches for the All Blacks. |
