Born: August 26, 1948 Test record: 3 Tests (1970-71) – 0 points Tours: 1970 World Cup
Ōtāhuhu’s Eddie Heatley played three Tests in the back-row for New Zealand in 1970-71 before being lured to Sydney.
Heatley was in his first season representing Auckland – scoring a try in a win over NSW Country – when chosen as a new cap in the Kiwis’ 1970 World Cup squad. The 22-year-old lined up in the second-row in the tournament losses to Australia and Great Britain.
The robust forward featured at lock in New Zealand’s stunning 24-3 victory over Australia at Carlaw Park in 1971. But a hairline fracture suffered in that match ruled him out of the subsequent ‘Grand Slam’ tour of Britain and France.
Heatley had impressed sufficiently to court the interest of North Sydney, however, and he played 27 first-grade games for the Bears in 1973-74.
After a stint with NSW country club Wauchope, Heatley returned to Ōtāhuhu and turned out for Auckland in the 1977 AMCO Cup competition in Australia.