Born: 9 October, 1938 Died: 13 October, 2022 – Christchurch Test record: 0 Tests Tours: 1961 tour of Britain and France
Papanui winger Allen Amer enjoyed a meteoric through the rugby league ranks to earn Kiwis selection for the 1961 tour of Britain and France as a 22-year-old.
Amer debuted for Canterbury in 1960 – his first season of senior rugby league – and played against France. He was one of just three players from his province (along with Jim Bond and vice-captain Mel Cooke) to be chosen in New Zealand’s touring squad the following season.
He scored tries in his first two appearances for the Kiwis, against Manchester XIII and Leeds City XIII, before bagging a double in the biggest win of the British section of the tour, a 36-11 victory over Barrow.
Amer also crossed in a win over Halifax-Huddersfield, finishing the tour with five tries from 12 games, but Brian Reidy, Tom Hadfield, Graham Kennedy and Ken McCracken were preferred on the flanks for the six Tests against Britain and France.
Part of the first Canterbury team to win the Rugby League Cup from Auckland at Addington Show Grounds in 1962, Amer represented at provincial level until 1966.
