Born: April 25, 1905 – Wairoa Died: August 27, 1986 – Ruatoria Test record: 1 Test (1937) – 2 goals (4 points)
One of the greatest All Blacks of all time, champion fullback George Nēpia’s time on the New Zealand rugby league scene was brief but memorable – featuring two memorable victories against Australia.
Nēpia rose to prominence with Hawke’s Bay before creating his legend on the All Blacks’ 1924-25 tour of the United Kingdom. The 19-year-old played all 32 of the ‘Invincibles’’ matches and was the star of the unbeaten tour.
Prevented from going on the All Blacks’ 1928 tour of South Africa on racial grounds, Nēpia – by now playing provincial football for East Coast – played the last of his nine Tests against the British Isles on home soil in 1930.
Nēpia accepted a £500 offer to play rugby league for the Streatham and Mitcham club in London in 1935, before transferring to Halifax.
He returned to New Zealand in 1937, appearing in matches for Hornby and Canterbury before being rushed into the New Zealand Māori at fullback for its clash with the touring Australian team. Nēpia’s kicking in general play and long-range goalkicking – landing four goals – were integral to a 16-5 boilover in front of more than 10,000 fans at Carlaw Park.
Three days later Nēpia lined up in the custodian role for New Zealand at the same ground, where 25,000 watched the 32-year-old icon kick two goals in a 16-15 victory over Australia – his third representative match in seven days.
Nēpia played for the Manukau club in 1938-39 but turned down an invitation to tour Australia with the Kiwis in 1939.
Reinstated to rugby union, Nēpia played his last match for East Coast in 1947 and remained a revered figure around the world until his death in 1986. He was one of the inaugural 1990 inductees to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.