| James Allan | |||
| Date of birth | September 11, 1860 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Taieri, New Zealand | ||
| Date of death | September 2, 1934 (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | Hawera, New Zealand | ||
| Weight | 90kg | ||
| School | Otago Boys' High | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| Taieri | |||
| correct as of 22 January 2007. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1881 – 1886 | Otago | ||
| correct as of 22 January 2007. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1884 | New Zealand | 8 [0 tests] | (6 [3 t]) |
| correct as of 22 January 2007. | |||
James Allan (born 11 September 1860 in Taieri, New Zealand, died 2 September 1934 in Hawera, New Zealand[1]) was a former New Zealand rugby union player who played 8 games for the All Blacks, the New Zealand national rugby union team. He is listed as the first All Black in playing order and was nicknamed the Taieri Giant.[1][2] Allan played in the first officially recognised national team.[1]
Allan's position was forward and was one of the five original Otago All Blacks.[1] Allan played 6 seasons for Otago, from 1881 to 1886.[1] Allan's 8 All Black appearances came on the 1884 All Blacks tour of Australia on which he scored 3 tries.[1] He was rated as one of the tours valuable players.[1] The tour saw him play 8 of the All Blacks' 9 games in a space of 23 days.[1]
Allan was highly regarded as a forward with reports describing him as a player who was "consistently in the vanguard".[1] Allan was also reported to be never far away from the ball along with being as "hard as nails"[1] During his playing career at Otago, Allan became a distinguished player for the province.[1] He had three other brothers who represented Otago.
Allan was a pupil of Otago Boys' High School.[1][3]