Born: December 19, 1950 Test record: 16 Tests (1972, 1974-75, 1977, 1979) – 34 goals (68 points) Tours: 1972 tour of Australia, 1972 World Cup, 1975 World Championship Series, 1977 World Cup
Goalkicking fullback Warren Collicoat played 16 Tests from New Zealand from Auckland and Wellington in a Kiwis tenure spanning eight seasons.
The Mt Albert custodian was first called up for the 1972 tour of Australia after kicking seven goals in Auckland’s 18-17 loss to the visiting Queensland team. Collicoat came into a reshuffled backline to debut in the second Test, landing two goals in a 31-7 defeat at Lang Park.
The 21-year-old’s only appearance at the World Cup later that year was off the bench against Great Britain, but he assumed the fullback spot permanently for the 1974 home series against the Lions.
Collicoat slotted five goals in the series-opening 13-8 win and kicked all of New Zealand’s points in a 17-8 loss in the second Test. Great Britain won the decider 20-0.
After being demoted to the bench for the first two matches of the 1975 World Championship Series, Collicoat started in five of the remaining six fixtures and tallied 15 goals. He was crucial to a 13-8 victory over Wales at Carlaw Park, kicking five goals.
Collicoat moved to Wellington with the Porirua City club in 1976 and kicked three goals in New Zealand XIII’s 18-5 win over Combined Sydney – essentially a Test-strength line-up with no Kiwis fixtures scheduled that season.
He played two matches at the 1977 World Cup, kicking three goals in each of New Zealand’s convincing losses to Australia and Great Britain. Overlooked for the 1978 tour of Australia in favour of Canterbury’s Michael O’Donnell and Auckland’s Nick Wright, the veteran was recalled for the 1979 series opener against Great Britain at Carlaw Park – kicking a goal in a 16-8 defeat – but was replaced at the back by James Leuluai for the remainder of the series.
Collicoat played for Wellington against the Lions later in the tour and represented Central Districts against France in 1981. He was named at fullback in Wellington’s Team of the Century in 2012.