Born: 9 May, 1924 – Westport Died: 10 Feburary, 2004 – Westport Test record: 3 Tests (1955) – 0 points Tours: 1955-56 tour of Great Britain and France
West Coast winger Bob Hawes played three Tests for New Zealand and toured Britain and France with the 1955-56 Kiwis after returning from a lengthy stint in the English Championship.
A West Coast rugby union rep and All Blacks triallist during the 1940s, Hawes was part of Bradford Northern’s recruitment drive in 1950 – one of five New Zealand amateurs to join the club – and spent four seasons in the Old Dart – including a Yorkshire Cup triumph in the 1953-54 campaign.
Hawes linked with Greymouth club Marist upon his return to New Zealand in 1954 after declining another contract with Bradford Northern, setting his sights on a Kiwis jersey. That came in 1955 when he played in both Tests of the drawn home series against France.
The 31-year-old subsequently earned a spot in the Kiwis’ touring party later that year, featuring in 27-12 loss to Great Britain in the second Test – receiving a warm reception from the crowd at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium – and scoring three tries in eight minor tour matches. Hawes crossed for a double in the tour-opening draw at Blackpool and dotted down again in a narrow loss to Wigan.
