Alan Blake | |
Birth Name: | Alan Walter Blake |
Birth Date: | 3 November 1922 |
Birth Place: | Carterton, New Zealand |
Death Place: | Masterton, New Zealand |
Position: | Flanker |
Height: | 1.880NaN0 |
Weight: | 92kg (203lb) |
Repteam2: | New Zealand Māori |
Repcaps1: | 1 |
Repcaps2: | 26 |
Reppoints1: | 0 |
Repyears1: | 1949 |
Repyears2: | 1948–50 |
Province1: | Wairarapa |
Provinceyears1: | 1941–60 |
Provinceapps1: | 108 |
Occupation: | Freezing works supervisor[1] |
School: | Wairarapa College |
Alan Walter Blake (3 November 1922 – 31 October 2010) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Blake represented Wairarapa at a provincial level. He played for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in a single test match in 1949. Despite not having any Māori ancestry, Blake played 26 matches for New Zealand Māori and captained the side in 1950.[2] He had an African American grandfather.[3]
During World War II, Blake served as a trooper with the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade from 1943, and saw action in Italy.[4] At the end of the war, he toured with the New Zealand Army rugby team, known as the "Kiwis", appearing in 24 matches.[2]