Born: March 19, 1930 – Kaitaia
Died: July 23, 2003 – Auckland
Test record: 6 Tests (1954, 1957) – 0 points
Tours: 1954 World Cup, 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, 1956 tour of Australia, 1957 World Cup

Ōtāhuhu forward John Yates played six Tests for New Zealand at the first two World Cups, while he made two overseas tours with the Kiwis in between.

A North Auckland rugby union rep from the Te Rarawa club in Kaitaia (his brother, Vic, became an All Black and a long-serving North Auckland player in the 1960s), Yates switched codes and earned a rapid national call-up after playing in Auckland’s win over Great Britain and starring for North Island in 1954.

Yates was selected in New Zealand’s squad for the inaugural World Cup later that year and turned out in losses to host France in Paris and Australia in Marseille. He also featured in all three exhibition matches against Australia after the tournament, scoring tries in each of the fixtures in California.

A New Zealand Māori representative against American All Stars (1953), Great Britain (1954), France (1955) and the Lions again (1958), Yates played 10 matches on the Kiwis 1955-56 tour of France and four games on the 1956 tour of Australia but could not force his way into the Test line-up on either trip.

Yates went to Australia again for the 1957 World Cup and lined up in all three of New Zealand’s matches at the tournament, including the 29-21 upset of Great Britain at the SCG, as well as the subsequent Test against Britain-France at Carlaw Park – his only appearance for the Kiwis on home soil.