Born: 12 November, 1970 – Balclutha Test record: 0 Tests Tours: 1993 tour of Britain and France
Hornby second-rower Simon Angell was part of the bumper Canterbury contingent selected for the Kiwis’ 1993 tour of Britain and France.
A Junior Kiwi against the Junior Kangaroos in 1988 and on the tour of Papua New Guinea in 1989, the Balclutha-born 18-year-old earned his Canterbury spurs under incoming coach Frank Endacott in ’89.
The rangy teenaged forward became a provincial regular in 1990 – coming off the bench in Canterbury’s historic win over Great Britain – and featured in Hornby’s 1990-91 premiership triumphs.
Angell also turned out for the New Zealand Colts sides that thumped the 1991 French tourists and lost to Papua New Guinea in 1992.
A try-scorer in the iconic 36-12 thrashing of Auckland in the 1993 First Division final at Addington Show Grounds, Angell was one of five Canterbury players – alongside Logan Edwards, Blair Harding, Paul Johnson and Aaron Whittaker – to receive a maiden Kiwis call-up for the end-of-season tour.
The 22-year-old marked his debut for New Zealand, a 17-10 loss to Bradford Northern, with a try and played seven matches in Britain and France (no Tests).
Angell was the Christchurch City Shiners’ top try-scorer (10) in the inaugural Lion Red Cup in 1994 and toured Australia with the New Zealand Residents side, but he was left out of the Kiwis squad that subsequently went to Papua New Guinea.
Recruited by the Auckland Warriors for their 1995 premiership entry, Angell was not called upon for a first-grade appearance but was a regular in Endacott’s reserve-grade line-up. He then ventured to England, playing for Featherstone Rovers and Salford Reds before returning to Hornby and the Canterbury provincial side in 1997.
Tasman Orcas procured the veteran’s services for their 1998 National Provincial Competition campaign, while Angell’s rugby league odyssey concluded with a five-season stay in Western Australia with Canning Bulldogs.
