Born: 23 August, 1964 Test record: 3 Tests (1986, 1989) – 0 points Tours: 1986 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, 1987 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea
Taranaki and Wellington hooker Barry Harvey played three Tests for New Zealand and made two overseas tours in the second half of the 1980s, competing with the likes of Wayne Wallace and Duane Mann for the dummy-half duties.
The 1982 Junior Kiwi turned out for New Plymouth club Western Suburbs, Taranaki at provincial level and Central Districts in the NZRL inter-district competition.
The archetypal all-rounder hooker – a rugged and hardworking defender, strong in the scrums and a solid ball-runner who gave good service around the rucks – Harvey followed in the footsteps of fellow Taranaki rake, Howie Tamati, to earn a maiden Kiwis call-up in 1986.
Debuting against Riverina in Wagga Wagga in the second match of the Kiwis’ tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, the 21-year-old unseated Wallace in the Test team to take on Australia four days later. Despite a 29-12 loss at the SCG, Harvey retained his spot for the following Test – another heavy defeat at Lang Park.
A broken hand in the Brisbane clash ended Harvey’s tour prematurely and Wallace was preferred as Test hooker in Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1987, a season which saw Harvey move to Wellington and join Randwick.
Canterbury hooker Wallace proved immovable in 1988, but Harvey led the Tamati-coached Wellington side against Great Britain and captained New Zealand Māori to the Pacific Cup title in Samoa.
The industrious Harvey won a recall for the 1989 series opener against Australia but made way for debutant Mann after the 26-6 loss in Christchurch. Mann and Wallace were preferred as the Kiwis’ hookers for the tour of Great Britain and France later that year, with Harvey an unlucky omission.
Harvey captained Wellington against Australia in 1989 and featured in the province’s momentous 1990 win over Great Britain, as well as representing New Zealand Māori against the touring Lions. He later coached Randwick to premiership success and had a lengthy tenure as Wellington coach.
With Tamati named at hooker, Harvey was chosen at loose forward in Taranaki Rugby League’s Team of the Century in 2008.
