Victor Yates (rugby)

Victor Moses Yates (15 June 1939 – 31 August 2008) was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in rugby union. His brother, John, represented New Zealand in rugby league while his father, Moses, represented North Auckland in rugby union.

Vic Yates

Full name	Victor Moses Yates
Date of birth	(1939-06-15)15 June 1939
Place of birth	Kaitaia, New Zealand
Date of death	31 August 2008(2008-08-31) (aged 69)
Place of death	Whangarei, New Zealand
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	93 kg (205 lb)
School	Kaitaia College
Notable relative(s)	John Yates (brother)
Rugby league career
Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) – Ponsonby () 1966–1968 Auckland ()
Rugby union career
Position(s) No.8 All Black No. 621 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Rarawa () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1959–1965 1961 North Auckland North Island 56 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1961–1962 New Zealand 3 (3) 1961–1964 New Zealand Māori

Rugby union career

Yates attended Kaitaia College and played rugby union for North Auckland, being part of the side that won the Ranfurly Shield in 1960.

He played nine matches including three Tests for the All Blacks in 1961 and 1962.

In an interview in L'Équipe on the 6th of September 2017, french international Pierre Albaladejo named him as the greatest player against whom he ever played.

Rugby league career

He later switched to rugby league, playing for the Ponsonby Ponies and representing Auckland in 1966, 1967 and 1968.[1]

References

1. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.

External links

• Victor Yates at AllBlacks.com

Awards
Preceded by Mack Herewini	Tom French Memorial Māori rugby union player of the year 1961	Succeeded by Waka Nathan