Arthur Jennings (rugby union)

Arthur Grahn Jennings (born 15 June 1940) is a Fijian-born former politician and New Zealand rugby union international. A lock, Jennings represented Bay of Plenty at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on their 1967 tour of Britain, France and Canada. He played six games for the All Blacks on that tour but did not appear in any test matches.[1] During the 1980s he served as a member of the House of Representatives in Fiji.

Arthur Jennings
Jennings in 1966
Member of the House of Representatives of Fiji
In office
1982–1987
Preceded byBill Clark
Succeeded byTony Wilkinson
ConstituencyWestern General National
Personal details
Born
Arthur Grahn Jennings

(1940-06-15) 15 June 1940 (age 84)
Lautoka, Fiji
RelativesMichael Jennings (nephew)
George Jennings (nephew)
Robert Jennings (nephew)
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
SchoolNorthcote College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1962–70 Bay of Plenty 89 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1967 New Zealand 0 (0)

Biography

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Of Fijian, Tongan and English ancestry,[2] Jennings was born in Fiji but was educated in New Zealand from an early age.[1] He was the first Fijian to play for the All Blacks,[3] and is the uncle of Tongan and Australian rugby league representative Michael Jennings.[2]

In 1982 Jennings contested the Western general national constituency as a National Federation Party (NFP) candidate, and was elected to the House of Representatives. However, he left the NFP in November 1985,[4] and subsequently lost his seat in 1987, and later unsuccessfully contested the 1999 elections as an independent.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Knight, Lindsay. "Arthur Jennings". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hooper, James (31 May 2009). "Mt Druitt boys fear no one". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  3. ^ Leckie, Jacqueline (13 July 2012). "Fijjian culture in New Zealand". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. ^ Robert Thomas Robertson & Akosita Tamanisau (1988) Fiji: shattered coups, p37
  5. ^ Brij V. Lal (2012) Fiji Before the Storm