Former All Black Grant Batty played in 15 tests. Photo / Photosport
Former All Blacks, Wellington and Bay of Plenty wing Grant Batty has died, aged 74.
Batty died on Friday in Queensland, Australia, where he had been living for several years.
Hailing from Greytown, Batty played 56 matches and 15 tests for the All Blacks during his career between 1972 and 1977, scoring four test tries.
He was often one of the smallest men on the field, standing 1.65m tall and weighing 70kg.
New Zealand Rugby’s acting chief executive Steve Lancaster said Batty was a “highly skilled player of his era”.
“He could energise a crowd, many of whom loved his bravery in not shirking away from larger opponents, and often coming away on top,” Lancaster said.
“He loved the game and representing his country and his contribution will forever be part of the All Blacks’ legacy.”
Batty made his debut for Wellington in 1970 and after five senior matches he was picked to play in an All Blacks trial. Two years later, he made his test debut against Wales in Cardiff.
His last test try was arguably his most famous. When facing the British and Irish Lions in Wellington, he intercepted a pass thrown by Trefor Evans and despite a crippling knee injury ran more than 50m to score in a 16-12 win.
The try was one of his three favourites from the 45 times he dotted down for New Zealand. A second try against the Barbarians in 1973 and his second try against NSW in Sydney in 1970 make up the others.
A knee injury led to his retirement from playing at the age of 25.
Former All Black Ian Kirkpatrick told the Herald it was a shock when Batty’s wife called to share this week’s news. The pair were close from their playing days together and had been in recent communication.
Wellington rugby chief executive Tony Giles said Batty’s death was “tremendously sad news”.
“Grant was a massive part of the fabric of Wellington Rugby for a long time, creating many memories for fans with how he punched above his weight on his way to becoming a world-class athlete,” Giles said.
“He made so many Wellingtonians proud and we know that the Marist St Pats community will particularly feel his loss.”
In 2014, Herald rugby reporter Wynne Gray named Batty in his 100 Greatest All Blacks list and described him as a “feisty dynamo”.
“The small man who loved big challenges and was pronounced a sporting freak by All Black coach JJ Stewart, headed off into some unfulfilling business ventures,” Gray wrote.
“Batty had been a whizz-kid at school in the Wairarapa and that prompted the Rugby Almanack to pick him as one of their promising players after playing for Wellington in his first year out of school.
“Batty was posted further out in the Wellington backline where he was a target for regular roughhouse attention. He never shirked the contest and his career flourished when he was shifted to the wing for the NZ Juniors trip to Australia in 1972.
“He wanted to play halfback, which may explain his choice of Sid Going, another small, muscular man, as the most talented All Black he ever played with.
“That launched his test career and the memories of his extraordinary acceleration and braking power, the jaunty walk, the Zapata moustache and the tinder dry temper. Batty was entertainment plus, a bristling powder keg who loved to mix it and drew crowds into his world.”
After hanging up the boots, Batty won the NZ Superstars series three years in a row before moving to Queensland where he turned his skills to coaching.
Batty was All Black No 715.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.