OBE, All Black captain, agricultural economist. Died aged 84
Robert Charles Stuart captained the All Blacks 20 times, including five times in seven tests. As a flanker or number eight he won praise for his leadership qualities.
And he became a respected Canterbury and NZ Rugby Football Union administrator, including
being a deputy chairman to Ces Blazey
But Stuart had played only two tests, aged 28, against the 1949 Australians before he was a surprise choice to captain the 1953-54 All Blacks to the British Isles, France and North America. He was then 32.
In those days of relatively few test matches, All Black teams which lost were seldom forgiven. The tour did not go into the annals as a great side.
But it did have some fine backs like Bob Scott, Ron Jarden, Jack Kelly and Morrie Dixon, and forwards including such familiar names as Kevin Skinner, Ian Clarke and Peter Jones.
Stuart's side managed to lose four games and draw two out of 36 games. Critically, they dropped the tests against Wales and France, reminding people back home that in the previous tour in 1935, before World War II, there had been another loss to Wales and one against England.
The negative tactics the team employed attracted some criticism.
Bob Stuart (1.84m, or just over 6 feet, and 92kg) scored only one try against Ireland, in his test career but played 126 first-class games including those for Manawatu, Canterbury and New Zealand Universities. The 1953-54 tour ended his first-class career, but he was called in as a coaching adviser against the 1956 Springboks.
He is survived by his second wife, Mary, and children.
