Robin Archer

William Robert "Robin" Archer (19 September 1930 – 9 March 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. A first five-eighth, Archer represented Otago and Southland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks.

Robin Archer

Birth name	William Robert Archer
Date of birth	(1930-09-19)19 September 1930
Place of birth	Gore, New Zealand
Date of death	Auckland, New Zealand
Place of death	9 March 2018(2018-03-09) (aged 87)
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
School	Gore High School
University	University of Otago
Notable relative(s)	James Archer (uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth All Black No. 563 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1953–55 1956–66 Otago Southland 24 91 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1954 1955–57 NZ Universities New Zealand 4 (0) Teams coached Years Team 1973–75, 80–81 Southland

Early life

He was born in Gore to William Charles Archer and Alice Louisa Archer, (née Roberts). His siblings were Watson, Rayna , Linley, Hilary, Jill, Nancy and Aylwyn.[1]

For a period during Robin's childhood the family lived in Invercargill before they returned to Gore.[2]

Archer attended Gore High School where he was a member of the 1st XV between 1946 and 1948.[3]

Playing career

As his father had played for the Pioneer Ruby Football Club in Gore, Archer after leaving high school played his club rugby for them.

He went on to study at the University of Otago in 1949 took a break back in Gore in 1950 during which he played for the Pioneer Senior team.

He returned to his studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1955.[4]

Provincial career

While at the University of Otago he played for the Dunedin Pirates rugby club and in 1953 was selected for the Otago team, eventually playing 24 games for them.[3] He first came to national recognition when he played for Rest of New Zealand, then a New Zealand XV and New Zealand Universities in 1954 in the first five-eighth position.[3] Returning permanently to Gore in 1956 he resume playing for Pioneer, which he continued up until the end of the 1966 season.[5]

His return to Southland saw him selected for the Southland team in 1956 and was captain from 1956 to 1963 during which they won the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki in 1959, and beat the Australian rugby team in 1958 and 1962.[6] While no longer captain he was in the Southland side that beat the British Lions in 1966.[6]

Archer's brother Watson (Wattie) Archer played with him in the Southland team from 1957 to 1963.

All Blacks

He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1955 to 1957. He played 13 matches (in the first five-eighth position) for the All Blacks, including four internationals. He played in the first two tests against Australia in 1955 and was next selected to play the first and third internationals against the 1956 Springboks, missing the second test with a rib injury. He also suffered a shoulder injury in the third test.

He toured Australia in 1957 and while captain (for the game against New England at Gunnedah) he did not make the test side.[7]

He stopped playing in 1966 in order to devote more time to his family.[8]

Coaching

Archer later had two periods as coach of the Southland side, from 1973 to 1975 and 1980 to 1981.[3]

With another former All Black, Ian Smith, he coached the 1971 South Island under-16 side.

Death

Archer died in Auckland on 9 March 2018 at the age of 87.[9][10]

Notes

1. Mortimer, Hilary. "Hilary Mortimer (nee Archer's) memories of 22 William Street, Gore". Yacck. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
2. Archer, Robin. "Robyn Archer's memories of his childhood". Yacck. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
3. Knight, Lindsay. "Robin Archer". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
4. "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: A". Retrieved 14 December 2015.
5. McArthur and Aitken, page 66.
6. McArthur and Aitken, page 69.
7. Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Ron, Palenski (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland: Moa Publications. p. 21. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
8. McArthur and Aitken, page 67.
9. "Former All Blacks first-five Robin Archer dies". Stuff.co.nz. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
10. "William Archer death notice". Southland Times. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.

References

• McArthur, J.F.; Aitken, Bradley (2004). A Brief History of the Pioneer Rugby Football Club (Paperback). Gore: Pioneer Rugby Football Club. Interview with Robin Archer.