Legendary selector 'Loomsey' dies at 80

Norma Bowater and Peter Loomes.

Loomsey didn't get to see the big game.

Peter Loomes, one of Hawke's Bay's most successful Hawke's Bay age-group rugby selectors, died during the early hours of Saturday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Of those who didn't make the first All Blacks test to be played at McLean Park in 18 years and deserved to see it, Loomsey would have been at the top of the list. Sixteen future All Blacks played for Hawke's Bay teams he was involved with during the 1980s.

Norm Hewitt, Tane Randell, Josh Kronfeld, Stu Forster, John Timu and the Cooper brothers, Greg and Matt, were among them. Loomsey's rugby CV included 13 Hurricanes titles at under-16 and under-18 level.

Before moving into the selecting ranks Loomsey played premier rugby for Napier Technical Old Boys and Colenso Pirate (now Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports). A broken hip and the loss of an eye forced an earlier-than-expected end to his playing days.

"I took up refereeing and didn't mind the one-eyed ref tag," he used to joke regularly.

For 10 years he was a Hawke's Bay Rugby Union volunteer and it wasn't uncommon to find him reminiscing with former players or parents as he carried out gate duty at McLean Park, Park Island or the old Nelson Park in Hastings.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union president and former All Black Blair Furlong, who boarded with Loomsey and his former wife, Janette, when he returned to the Bay in 1967 for 10 months, said Loomsey gave a lot to the code.

"Rugby was his forte. He loved the young guys and had a good way with them. Loomsey made a terrific contribution."

A former Rothmans fine cut worker, Henry Berry salesman and Marewa School caretaker, Loomsey, was also on the New Zealand Council for the Paraplegics and Physically Disabled. His fundraising pursuits for that organisation as well as the various rugby teams he was involved with were legendary.

Loomsey is survived by his daughter Pam and three grandchildren.