Jock Hobbs
| Full name | Michael James Bowie Hobbs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 February 1960 | ||
| Place of birth | Christchurch, New Zealand | ||
| Date of death | 13 March 2012 (aged 52) | ||
| Place of death | Wellington | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb) | ||
| School | Christ's College | ||
| Occupation(s) | Amateur rugby union player
Sports Executive | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Flanker | ||
| New Zealand No. | 836 | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1981–1987 | Canterbury | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1983–1986 | New Zealand | 21 | (16) |
Michael James Bowie "Jock" Hobbs, CNZM (15 February 1960 – 13 March 2012) 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 was prominent in rugby administration. Between 2002 and 2010 he was chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union before standing down due to illness.[1]
Biography
Jock Hobbs was born in Christchurch. He played in the first XV at Christ's College in Christchurch, and was a regular first choice for Canterbury from the 1981 season onwards, playing 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 few 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. He took part in the 1986 New Zealand Cavaliers tour to South Africa, before retiring in 1987 after a succession of concussions.
In 2005 Hobbs led New Zealand's successful bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup and in the same year was named the Herald’s New Zealander of the year.[2] Jock is the longest serving Chairman in NZRU history and his service to the game was recognised at the 2011 IRB and Steinlager Rugby awards where he received the Vernon Pugh award for Distinguished service and the Steinlager Salver award respectively.[3] He was also a director of finance company Strategic Finance, which was placed in receivership in March 2010. The Financial Markets Authority is investigating the records of this company.[4] The Financial Markets Authority stopped its probe into Mr Hobbs role after medical information provided on behalf of Mr Hobbs disclosed the extent of his illness; the investigation into other living parties involved with Strategic Finance continues.[5]
In 2010 Hobbs stepped down from his administrative positions in order to battle leukaemia.[6]
Hobbs died on 13 March 2012 at Wellington Hospital.[7]
References
- ↑ "Rugby: NZRU keen to keep Hobbs' experience". The New Zealand Herald. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ↑ Cumming, Geoff (17 December 2005). "NZer of the Year: Jock Hobbs".
- ↑ "Jerome Kaino named NZ rugby player of year". Stuff.co.nz. 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
- ↑ "FMA update on finance company investigations | Financial Markets Authority". Fma.govt.nz. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
- ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/6606498/Illness-stopped-Jock-Hobbs-probe
- ↑ Hinton, Marc (2010-05-07). "Health forces Jock Hobbs to stand down". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
- ↑ All Black great Jock Hobbs dies Stuff.co.nz, March 13, 2012
External links
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