Jock Hobbs

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Jock Hobbs (born Michael James Bowie Hobbs on 15 February 1960 in Christchurch) was a New Zealand rugby union player who was an All Blacks flanker who played in 21 tests between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain. In recent years he has been more prominent in rugby administration. Since 2002 he has been chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Jock Hobbs played in the first XV at Christ's College in Christchurch, and was a regular first choice for Canterbury during the 1981 season, and he played in the failed Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato. His test debut came in 1983 against the British and Irish Lions, where he was successor to Graham Mourie. Others that were possible replacements were Bruce Middleton, and Auckland captain at the time, Alwyn Harvey, but Hobbs played so well against the Lions that he was an automatic selection as All Blacks number seven for the next three or four seasons.

Hobbs was All Black captain on the short tour of Fiji late in 1984 when Andy Dalton was unavailable, and in the tour of Argentina in 1985 when Dalton was again unavailable.

Hobbs led New Zealand's successful bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.