Jack Hazlett, Don and Ian Clarke - Did you know.....

Your website has me looking up some of my old programmes and I found a couple of interesting stories I would love to share with Yacck.....

Jack Hazlett started off as a full-back!

Do you know that Jack Hazlett who was probably one of Southland's strongest forwards first played as a full- back.
Jack Hazlett attended primary school at Winchester, in South Canterbury, and the later went to Christ's College where he played full- back in the first XV.
He was a solid 13 stoner even in his school days.  Hazlett was again chosen as full-back when he returned to his home town.
The man who encouraged Hazlett to transfer to the forwards was I.M. Miller - former Southland captain and South Island lock.
Hazlett not only proved himself to be one of the best in the South Island pack that played against North Island but he ended up playing 87 games for Southland between 1960-68.

​

Don and Ian Clarke

The All Black careers of Don and Ian Clark almost ended in 1957, it was revealed that Don Clarke suggested to the Waikato selector that his younger brother Doug Clarke would be an inside back possibility.
This strained the relationship with the squad and as a result Doug withdrew and Don and Ian were dropped.
They were told by the Waikato Rugby Union that apologies were expected from them for "attempting to influence a selector".
They were officially informed that if they did not apologise they would never play for New Zealand again.
After seeking legal advice they wrote notes expressing regret but emphasising that they were not actually aware of the details of the allegations against them.
The half-apologies were accepted and as they say - "The rest is history"