Another All Black for Varsity
BOTH Otago and the University rugby club can claim yet another All Black.
Dillon Hunt made his debut for the team yesterday, playing the final 10 minutes in the midweek match against the French XV.
The flanker became the 45th All Black to debut for the national team while with the University club, and the 69th All Black to have played for the club at any stage.
There has been debate over the years whether it has the most All Blacks of any club, or whether Ponsonby can claim that title.
Much of the debate comes down to the criteria used for what constitutes an All Black from either club.
Hunt’s debut, at the very least, means University ties the 45 All Blacks listed on the Ponsonby club’s website as having been selected for New Zealand while playing for the club.
However, that number has been questioned in the past, with suggestions most clubs counted their All Blacks by whether they debuted while with that club.
Going by that condition, Ponsonby has had 39 All Blacks.
When including All Blacks to have played for the club at any stage of their career, that rose to 50.
It has been a remarkable rise for Hunt this season, who at the beginning of the year was preparing for the club season.
However, injuries to Dan
Pryor, Shane Christie and James Lentjes resulted in him being called into the Highlanders squad.
He made his debut for the team on March 11 against the Blues at Eden Park and impressed with his high work rate.
That meant he stayed with the team for the remainder of the season, making 12 appearances in total.
He then carried that form into the Mitre 10 Cup season with Otago.
A 22yearold surveying student, he was forced to reschedule his final exam after being chosen in the Barbarians side to play the All Blacks the weekend before last.
Since that game he has remained in Europe and joined up with the All Blacks.