| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fletcher Roy Christian | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Wing, Centre | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 19?? | Otahuhu | |||||
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 19?? | Auckland | |||||
| 1964 | New Zealand Māori | |||||
| 1965–1972 | New Zealand | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Source: RLP | ||||||
Fletcher Roy Christian MBE[1] is a New Zealand retired international rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s. A centre three-quarter, he captained his country in the sport.
Christian was born in Auckland to Norfolk Island parents and is a direct descendant to Fletcher Christian.[2]
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Christian played his first Test match in 1965 against Australia. While playing for Otahuhu in 1966 Christian was awarded the Lipscombe Cup for Premier One sportsman of the year. Injury however saw him miss the 1968 World Cup.[3]
Christian was part of the Auckland side that defeated Australia in 1969.[4] He was appointed captain of the New Zealand national side in 1970 and played in that year's World Cup.[3]
In 1971 Christian captained New Zealand to a famous victory against Australia at Carlaw Park.[5] Also in 1971, his Kiwis side became the first New Zealand touring team to win a test series in Britain.[6]
The 1972 World Cup saw the last time Christian represented New Zealand.[7] He retired with little fanfare as no test matches were scheduled for 1973.[3] He had played in 74 matches for the Kiwis, including 32 tests.
Christian also captained the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.[8]
Christian was awarded a MBE in the 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours.[3]
After retirement Christian served as the Otahuhu Leopards chairman before becoming a Minister in the Presbyterian Church.[3]
In 2007 he was inducted as one of the New Zealand Rugby League's "Legends of League".[9]
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