Craig Wickes

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Craig Wickes
Personal information
Date of birth	February 26, 1962 (1962-02-26) (age 46)
Place of birth	Whakatane
Height	1.78m
Weight	83kg
School	Palmerston North Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Winger, centre
All Black No.	821
Clubs
	Kia Toa

Provincial/State sides
1980 - 1986	Manawatu

National team(s)		Caps	(points)
1980	New Zealand	1	(0)

Craig David Wickes (born 26 February 1962) was a former New Zealand rugby player. He is notable as being the second-youngest All Black ever and the only player selected while still at high school.

[edit] Career

Wickes was born in Whakatane and his family moved to Palmerston North when he was around 10. He attended Palmerston North Boys' High School. He was also a sprinter, with best times of 10.9 seconds for the 100m sprint and 23.0 seconds for 200m.

He was selected as a winger for the Manawatu rugby team in 1979, aged 17, and also played for New Zealand Colts. In 1980 he was selected as a reserve for the All Black team to play a non-test match against Fiji at Auckland in 13 September 1980 (making him 18 years 200 days). The selection policy for this match excluded all players who had played against Australia and France earlier in the season. He replaced injured winger Ken Taylor with 14 minutes remaining in the game, but made little impact. In 1981 he sustained a series of knee injuries which prevented him from going further. He returned to the Manawatu squad for four games in 1986, but a recurrance of the knee injuries ended his career.