| Full name | Robert William Henry Scott | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 February 1921 | ||
| Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 79 kg (12 st 6 lb) | ||
| School | Ponsonby School | ||
| Occupation(s) | warehouseman, painter, paperhanger, men’s outfitter | ||
| Rugby league career | |||
| Position | Fullback | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 19??-1942 | Ponsonby | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Position(s) | Retired | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fullback | ||
| New Zealand No. | 460 | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 1941 1946–1953 1944 1954 |
Motor Transport Pool Ammunition Company Ponsonby Petone |
||
| correct as of 2007-10-11. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1946–1952 | Auckland | ||
| correct as of 2007-10-11. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1945–1946 1946–1954 |
NZEF Kiwis New Zealand |
17 |
(74) |
| correct as of 2007-10-11. | |||
Bob Scott (born Robert Wiliam Henry Scott 6 February 1921 in Wellington, New Zealand) was a rugby football player who played rugby union for the All Blacks.
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One of six children, Scott had a difficult childhood. His father had fought with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Gallipoli during the First World War where he was chronically wounded.[1] Although his father was employed money was scarce and Scott frequently went hungry, and he did own shoes as a child.[2] His father was employed by the Public Works Department, and the family moved to Kapuni, then Tangarakau and later Ohura. When Scott was nine in 1930 his parent split up and he moved into a Salvation Army children's home, Cecilia Whatman Home in Masterton. Although after two years the parents reconciled it was short-lived and they separated permanently within a year. Scott stayed with his father while his five siblings were sent again to a children's home. Scott worked part time and went to school until his father died of cancer in 1934. After his father's death he moved back with his mother who had established a home with his siblings.[3]
Scott started his footballing career playing rugby league for the Ponsonby club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.[4] Scott switched codes during the Second World War.
After working in a warehouse from the age of 13 he enlisted in the New Zealand Army when the Second World War started. He was posted to the Motor Transport Pool in Auckland.[5] They had a team which entered Auckland's senior rugby union competition, and in 1941 won the Gallaher Shield.[6] In 1942 he was posted to Egypt with the Army Service Corps in the New Zealand Division as a truck driver.[7] He served in North Africa and Italy, and described driving trucks of ammunition to the front lines as the most lonely experience of his life.[8]
Company rugby teams within the New Zealand Division competed in a tournament called the Freyberg Cup — named after Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg who commanded the division. Scott was in the Ammunition Company team that made the Freybery Cup final in 1944. Although they lost the final to the 22nd Division, Scott, who played at fullback was selected to trial for the Army's Kiwis team.
During World War II, he served in Italy and was one of the players in the New Zealand Army rugby team along with Bob Stuart as fullback. As an All Black in 1946 he toured Australia and later South Africa.[9]
He now lives in Whangamata, New Zealand, a coastal resort approximately 2.5 hours from Auckland city.