Jimmy Haig
Encyclopedia
James Scot "Jimmy" Haig (1924–1996) was a New Zealand rugby football
er who represented his country in both rugby league
and rugby union
.
but emigrated to New Zealand at a young age with his family and grew up in Kaitangata
in Otago
. His elder brother, Laurie, was also an All Black
. Another brother, Bert, played for Otago in rugby union while another, Bill, represented the provience in cricket.
He played in another five matches in 1946 for Otago and again represented the South Island.
Haig made his All Blacks
debut against Australia
on 14 September 1946. He played in the next Test match on the 28 September but this was also to be his last, as Haig switched codes to rugby league
the following season.
competition and representing the provience. Pat Smith had lured him north from Dunedin with a cash incentive and a barman's job. He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis that same year. Part of Haig's reason for the switch was the opportunity to tour Great Britain and Haig was selected for the Kiwis 1947–48 tour of his place of birth.
He was the New Zealand captain for nine Test matches between 1951 and 1954. Haig moved clubs in 1952, joining the new Marist club.
Haig returned to Otago in 1954, representing the province
and again being selected for the Kiwis. He retired at the end of the year.
in 1989.
Haig died aged 71 on the 28 October 1996.
The New Zealand Rugby Union presented his family with his All Blacks cap in 2009.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
er who represented his country in both rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
Early years
Haig was born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
but emigrated to New Zealand at a young age with his family and grew up in Kaitangata
Kaitangata
Kaitangata can mean the following:*Kaitangata, New Zealand, a small town near the coast of South Otago in New Zealand*Kaitangata , a character in Māori mythology...
in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
. His elder brother, Laurie, was also an All Black
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. Another brother, Bert, played for Otago in rugby union while another, Bill, represented the provience in cricket.
Rugby union career
Haig made his first grade debut for Otago in 1945, playing in four matches, and also playing for the South Island and a New Zealand XV that year.He played in another five matches in 1946 for Otago and again represented the South Island.
Haig made his All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
debut against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
on 14 September 1946. He played in the next Test match on the 28 September but this was also to be his last, as Haig switched codes to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
the following season.
Rugby league career
Haig moved to Canterbury in 1947, playing for the new Prebbleton club in the Canterbury Rugby LeagueCanterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
competition and representing the provience. Pat Smith had lured him north from Dunedin with a cash incentive and a barman's job. He made his debut for the New Zealand Kiwis that same year. Part of Haig's reason for the switch was the opportunity to tour Great Britain and Haig was selected for the Kiwis 1947–48 tour of his place of birth.
He was the New Zealand captain for nine Test matches between 1951 and 1954. Haig moved clubs in 1952, joining the new Marist club.
Haig returned to Otago in 1954, representing the province
Otago rugby league team
The Otago rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Otago Rugby League. They are known as the Whalers. In the past they have been nicknamed the Storm, the Raiders and the 45er's.-History:...
and again being selected for the Kiwis. He retired at the end of the year.
Later years
Haig later coached the Pirates club in the Otago Rugby Union competition, where his son Barry played. He was the last New Zealand dual-code rugby international until Kurt SherlockKurt Sherlock
Kurt Sherlock is a dual international representing his home country of New Zealand in both rugby codes union and league, though he was never capped for a Test match under the union code. He made his rugby league début for the Kiwis in 1989.-Early years:...
in 1989.
Haig died aged 71 on the 28 October 1996.
The New Zealand Rugby Union presented his family with his All Blacks cap in 2009.