Born: May 24, 1966
Test record: 15 Tests (1989-91, 1993) – 6 tries (24 points)
Tours: 1989 tour of Britain and France, 1993 tour of Britain and France

Diminutive livewire Dave Watson was an ultra-versatile regular for the Kiwis from 1989-93, spreading his 15 Test appearances across wing, centre, five-eighth and fullback.

Born in Taranaki, he cut his teeth with Waitara Bears and represented New Zealand Māori at the 1986 Pacific Cup.

Predominantly a centre early on, he moved to Auckland with Manukau and represented his new province against Great Britain and Queensland – scoring four tries in the latter – in 1988. In 1989, following a second off-season with Whitehaven, scored tries in New Zealand XIII’s loss and Auckland’s memorable win against Australia.

Watson received his maiden Kiwis call-up for the 1989 tour of Britain and France. He scored six tries in seven tour matches in England, before making his Test debut on the wing in the one-off clash with France and scoring three tries in a 34-0 win.

After playing twice against the 1990 Great Britain tourists – for New Zealand Māori and a Taranaki Invitation XIII – he was selected in the centres for both Tests in Papua New Guinea, scoring a try in the 18-10 second-Test victory in Port Moresby. He retained his spot for the 24-6 loss to Australia in Wellington.

Watson was a mainstay for the Kiwis in 1991, lining up in the centres in both Tests against France (scoring a try in the second) and the series-opening upset of Australia in Melbourne. He shifted to five-eighth in the second Test and wing in the third as Australia fought back to earn a comprehensive series win.

Following prolific tryscoring winters with Ryedale-York (1989-90), Hull KR (1990-91) and Halifax (1991-92), Watson joined Bradford-Northern for the 1992-93 campaign – the start of an eventful three-season stay.

He was recalled for the 1993 series against Australia, featuring in the centres in all three matches. Returning to Bradford-Northern, he was at fullback for the club’s 17-10 win over the touring Kiwis later that year.

Though unavailable for tour fixtures, Watson played all three Tests of the disastrous 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Great Britain – the first at centre and the other two at fullback, scoring a try in the second Test at Wigan – but that would ultimately be his international swansong.

Watson was in hot demand in Australia after an impressive stint as Cronulla’s fullback during the second half of 1994. He had a short stay with Sydney Tigers in 1995 and was a standout for a pair of doomed clubs, Gold Coast Chargers and South Queensland Crushers, over the next two seasons.

The journeyman made a permanent shift back to England in 1998 and enjoyed a career highlight that year as five-eighth in Sheffield Eagles’ 17-8 Challenge Cup final boilover against Wigan at Wembley.

Subsequent stints with Workington (2000) and Rochdale (2001-02) took his career club tallies past 300 games and 100 tries.

Watson was named at fullback in Taranaki’s Team of the Century in 2008.