Born: 27 March, 1941 Test record: 2 Tests (1964) – 0 points
Hornby stand-off half John Bray played two Tests for New Zealand against France in 1964 before tertiary studies and injuries prematurely ended his career.
The classy playmaker debuted for Canterbury in 1963 and featured in South Island’s win over North Island the following season. Despite the Kiwis’ series-opening win over the French tourists in 1964, the 23-year-old Bray was called into the line-up at the expense of fellow Cantabrian Jim Bond, who had started at five-eighth in New Zealand’s previous 12 Tests.
He helped the Kiwis to a 3-0 cleansweep with an 18-8 win at Lancaster Park – the first Test staged in Christchurch in 11 years – and a 10-2 victory at Carlaw Park.
Bray, who played alongside twin brother Richard at Hornby, made the last of nine appearances for Canterbury in 1965.
After hanging up the boots, he gave decades of service as an administrator for Hornby, Wellington Rugby League, Canterbury Rugby League and New Zealand Rugby League, where he was a director for 10 years and deputy chair for two years. Bray also managed the Kiwis in 1987-88.
Bray was made an NZRL life member in 2010 and later became chairman of the NZRL Museum Committee.
